So the plan is to train the military to go after citizens of the United States. I was expecting this at some point, because I’ve been paying attention, but now that it’s here, I feel sick to my stomach and can’t remember anything sane to do. I know I’m not helpless, Jack, but the fear has me feeling that way. I’ll need reminding of what we can do because my head is spinning
I hear you, Ronda.. What you’re feeling is exactly what authoritarian tactics are designed to do; overwhelm you...make you doubt your own power...make you freeze. That reaction doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re awake.
You are not helpless. We still have laws...representatives...courts...local officials...and a public that is far larger than any strongman’s inner circle.
The work now is to channel that sick feeling into steady...daily action: calls...letters... donations...amplifying real information...and refusing to let the abnormal feel normal.
That’s how citizens have always pushed back...and it still works.
I’ll keep reminding you...over and over...that fear is a weapon...but so is resolve.
Stay with me. We’re going to keep naming what’s happening...exposing it...and giving you practical steps so you’re never left spinning. You’re part of a much bigger line of people who refuse to surrender their country.
I know exactly how you’re feeling because I’m feeling the same way. I don’t think I can eat. I keep remembering how proud my generation was about defeating fascism at the end of WWWII. The nation was proud of this accomplishment and also proud of the way the USA was helping European nations rebuild. Too many Americans today are too young to remember or understand who Americans are! This is devastating. A train wreck we saw happening. Why couldn’t we stop it?
We could not stop it because many people were and still are being lied to in heavy, continual doses, and they do not even question it. There are other people who pay no attention whatsoever.
I am not an optimist. I do not own rose colored glasses. But I have to wonder if, in addition to the potential horror this signifies, it also telegraphed intent so clearly that at the same moment a cadre of resistance was formed. I’d further prefer to believe that so many of our most respected military leaders know enough to know showing any reaction today would be a mistake. Unfortunately for us, like they say, “you never hear the shot that gets you”.
You’re reading this exactly the way seasoned people read it, Randy. Spectacle isn’t just a show of power...it’s also a giant flare that gives away intent.
And yes, inside any institution there are always quieter networks...officers who understand both the law and the stakes...who know not to tip their hand too early.
None of us can afford rose-colored glasses right now. But we also can’t afford despair. History shows that when authoritarian moves become too blatant...they also harden resistance. The public sees it. Insiders see it. Allies form in the shadows before they ever show their faces.
Your instinct is right: silence in a moment like this doesn’t always mean submission. Sometimes it’s patience. Sometimes it’s people lining up their own moves. Our job is to stay awake...stay vocal...and keep the democratic space open so when that resistance surfaces...it has a country ready to back it.
Let’s hope that the military as a whole is smarter than to go after Americans, smart enough not to believe the lies, and smart enough to see through the whole plan. They must be smart enough to understand and uphold the Constitution as it now stands, above all else.
It seems, and has seemed all along, that everyone should have been wise and perceptive enough to keep us free of such a mess in the first place. I realize that these thoughts do not solve anything. Nonetheless, they are the most prominent thoughts of the moment.
Jack, I look forward to reading what you think we should do from this point onward. As always, thank you so much for all you do!
You’re right to hope, and you’re right to be angry that we ever landed in this mess.
The truth is...many in uniform do see through the lies...and the oath to the Constitution still matters to far more of them than Trump or Hegseth want you to believe.
But hoping isn’t enough...and despair won’t do. What comes next is on us: steady pressure on elected reps...constant exposure of the authoritarian playbook...and reminding the public that freedom isn’t self-sustaining—it survives because citizens fight for it every single day.
And that’s where I’ll keep my focus for you...on the concrete steps we can all take so that when history looks back...it won’t say we just watched this happen. It’ll say we pushed back.
Thank you, Jack. May continual pressure with calls and messages to my brick wall strong supporter of that party in the House have an impact in the needed direction! Your encouragement for us means a lot. Also, I know how my family members and friends who were in the armed forces would have thought, and they would today if they were still living. I am proud of all of the people with fine character and strong values of duty. I appreciate that you pointed out how the majority of them must feel. I am sure they are wise.
I feel sad and angry. I hope the flag leaders can join together and refuse to take their troops into cities to destroy American citizens. It would seem if they refuse they would only be left with the horrible ice brigade. I have to believe there are more US military than ice lackeys. Other countries have had their military overturn corrupt government. Maybe that will happen here
I hear you, Teri. Feeling sad and angry right now is the sane reaction. But don’t lose sight of this: the U.S. armed forces are far bigger...older...and more professional than the handful of “ice lackeys” you’re picturing. Most senior officers know their oath runs to the Constitution...not to a man.
Other countries have seen militaries crushed into serving a corrupt regime. But we’re not there yet. The very spectacle you’re seeing now also signals intent and stiffens spines inside the ranks. Plenty of flag officers understand that taking troops into U.S. cities against citizens would be a line they cannot cross.
Our part is to stay loud...organized, and visible so those leaders know the country is watching and will back them if they stand up. That’s how you turn this moment from a nightmare into a turning point.
I have always felt there are more of us than them and after reading more opinions by writers on Substack I realized the flag officers silence was a show of solidarity and strength because the 2 fools thought they would get applause and it did not happen. Thanks for the response
Mike, for future reference...I might respond to a comment an hour after it is made, or...it might be 2-3 days. Most often, it will be several hours...at the very least before I reply.
Is there enough/majority of the generals who could be trusted to push back due to oath of Constitution? I just can’t imagine all would capitulate to a pair of madmen.
That instinct is right. The oath to the Constitution still matters to far more of the officer corps than Trump or Hegseth want you to believe. These are men and women who’ve spent their entire careers drilling that oath into their bones...and they know where the line is.
Will some capitulate? Always. But enough? No. History shows strongmen try to make it look unanimous...when in reality the resistance inside is larger and quieter than we see.
Silence today doesn’t mean surrender...it often means preparation.
The job for the rest of us is to stay loud...steady...and unshakable so those officers know they won’t stand alone if they hold the line.
I understand why you’re asking this. It’s exactly what they want us to doubt...that anyone inside the system still takes the oath seriously. But remember: the officer corps is huge... diverse...and filled with people who’ve spent entire careers drilling the Constitution into their bones.
No, not every general will roll over for a pair of madmen. The military’s culture still runs on chain of command...yes...but also on law...precedent...and an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies.
That oath isn’t ceremonial; it’s the real anchor.
Authoritarians count on spectacle to make it look like unanimous submission. The reality is quieter...slower...more complicated...and there are far more officers who will quietly resist than headlines let on.
Our job is to keep the public space alive so those who would push back know the country is behind them.
We need a few Deep Throat whistle blowers. But who would protect them? Where Woodward and Bernstein had the power of the press behind them, we have no such thing.
I have collected document after document (and continue to do so, they are posted here under another comment) showing the depths of the Trump-Epstein-Israel-Russia connections and I firmly believe there's a lot more to it. I am sharing them as many times as I can find the opportunity to do so all over Reddit and SubStack but my reach is very very small. There are more than a dozen links to follow and each is its own piece of the puzzle and its own rabbit hole. Not many people want to go down all of those. Fewer still can see the patterns and start putting together the bigger picture. No one wants to truly believe in a global pedo conspiracy.
But blowing this conspiracy wide open is the only hope we have and no one is paying attention. They think posting "Release the Epstein files!" is the key but that wouldn't expose Trump and Trump alone. Actually exposing Epstein's network would expose an enormous global power structure that is rapidly advancing with every blow to American democracy and it's institutions. Jack has talked about it, but not enough, (I'm sorry, Jack).
There is no leadership and no cohesive resistance. We all feel helpless to stop all of this because mostly we are. No one is going to save us and I don't think a true resistance will coalesce in time for us to save ourselves. Dems are complicit. They're powerless too, for other reasons. I don't know what to do except keep sharing my tranche of links and hope maybe someone with a big enough audience gets ahold of the story. Democracy is dying fast.
I know exactly the frustration you’re describing, Angie. Whistleblowers don’t come forward because they’re brave....they come forward because there’s a visible ecosystem ready to protect and amplify them.
In the 70s, that meant a few newspapers with monopoly reach. Today it’s fragmented. But fragmented doesn’t mean powerless.
What you’re doing...collecting...organizing...archiving...is exactly how big revelations start. No one ever wants to believe the scope at first; that’s why early documentation is so critical.
You’re building the map others will eventually need. That matters.
The next step isn’t to stop or despair. It’s to make your work easier for others to digest: clear timelines...visual charts...short “one rabbit hole at a time” explanations.
That’s how you grow an audience for complex truth...by giving them one handle at a time instead of a tangle. The appetite for receipts is there...but it has to be fed in pieces.
And I’ll keep using my platform to show people how to see the patterns...because you’re right: it isn’t just about “Release the Epstein files.”
It’s about exposing how power structures work and making sure the public still has the tools and courage to act on that knowledge. That’s the real fight for democracy
I just don’t see it that way Jack…no applause, stone faced; I take their reaction as a total rejection of what these two clowns were prattling on about…
James, could you clarify which part you see differently? I didn’t zero in on how the brass would react as much as on Trump’s endgame and the way he’s moving toward it.
What we saw in that room is exactly what you’d expect from senior military leaders at any event: no applause, no cheers, no boos. That’s standard protocol. It does make the mood harder to read, but there were still signals...and I agree with you...there was a healthy streak of defiance under the surface.
Everyone in that hall knew two ass-clowns were on stage with almost no credibility. Does that guarantee how they’ll act when the rubber truly meets the road? No. But it does tell you where you’d want to place your bets.
I think, yes, for the most part but if there are videos of the audience it will be possible to tell how many of the officers are thinking. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in their place today.
Global pedo conspiracy is exactly right. That’s why whoever has this Epstein info needs to quit sitting on it and GET IT OUT IN THE OPEN. we have wasted enough time. Someone has to break the rules … Trump dies it all the time- and just get the Epstein info out to the public.
OK, Jack, but YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR AND THE VESTRY.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. Do you think we are deaf aand blind?
What we need is GUIDENCE ON HOW TO FIGHT BACK.
Yes, I know: VOTE AT THE MIDTERMS. We are going to do that, nut they ar FIFTEEN MONTHS AWAY! Donnie Boy and Hegsdeath will have done a barge load of harm by then.
WE NEED TO START FIGHTING TODAY.
FOR THE SAKE OF A NATION INDER SEIGE, SPEAK UP NOW!
I hear you. The anger in your note is exactly the fuel authoritarians hope to smother. And you’re right about one thing: waiting for midterms alone is not a plan.
But let me be clear about why I write the way I do. I never assume everyone already knows what’s going on...because most of the time, they don’t.
That’s exactly why I hammer these issues day after day. It’s how you wake up people who aren’t yet awake.
And I don’t just write and walk away. I speak up all day long...and so do many of the people reading this newsletter. Our job isn’t just to yell into the void; it’s to constantly grow the number of voices calling out what’s happening...showing receipts...making it impossible for this to stay hidden.
That’s how you fight back between elections. That’s how you keep the space for real resistance alive. I’ll keep laying out the steps you can take right now...and together we’ll keep widening the circle until it’s too big to ignore.
We need to CONTINUE fighting, and CONTINUE speaking out. That democracy loving Americans will continue to do so...I'm confident.
-Jack
P.S. Are you a new subscriber? I ask, because several times a week...I post clear, concise, no bullshit strategies of how to fight back. I have been for over two years now.
The reality? The strategies don't deviate much. They are the "put in the work" doing the basic things, over and over, day after day. There is no magic strategy. However, there can be...damn near magical seeming results...that come from enough people...doing the things they know...Every. Single. Day.
I heard one thing that sent chills up my spine and it came out of trump's mouth... when he was talking about sending armed troops into blue cities... he said "kill them". He told them to kill American citizens in the goddamned United States! "The enemy within" which is anyone and everyone who doesn't bow down to him. Democrats. This is the same rhetoric that Hitler used when he was referring to Jews. They're not only using P2025... They are using Hitler's playbook.
I think that we are way past "peaceful protest" lines. Next there will be bounties on our heads. There are going to be armed men at voting precincts during midterms, if even we get a chance to vote again. A shadow government should have been building since the day after he won the second term.
I heard the same words you did, Libbey...and you’re right...they were chilling. That kind of language is not a slip; it’s a test.
It’s designed to terrorize...to make decent people believe that violence is inevitable and resistance is futile. That’s exactly how strongmen set the stage.
But here’s what history also shows: regimes overplay their hand. When the mask drops too far, it not only frightens the public...it stiffens spines inside the very institutions a would-be dictator needs to control.
The rhetoric you’re hearing may be horrific, but it also telegraphs intent so clearly that it gives the rest of us, and the people inside the system, time to organize.
We are not past the point of non-violent action. Non-violent pressure...exposing the playbook...showing up in numbers...and keeping voting systems under public watch are still the tools that work...and they’re exactly the ones authoritarians most fear.
Our job isn’t to mirror their rage; it’s to outlast it...out-organize it...and keep the space for lawful resistance alive so that when the line is crossed...there’s a country ready to push back.
That’s what I’m going to keep doing here: naming it...showing you the receipts...and laying out steps so we’re never caught flat-footed.
Time to brush up on your knowledge of "The Epstein Conspiracy." Not "the Files." Not "the Client List." Make no mistake. It's "The Epstein Conspiracy" and we need to start calling it that because that's exactly what it is. It involves Epstein. Trump. Israel. Russia. And lots and lots of people whose names you will recognize immediately. Big names. At the highest levels of government and far beyond.
RELEASE THE EPSTEIN CONSPIRACY FILES.
Here are the posts and articles I have collected detailing the depth of what I'm calling "The Epstein Conspiracy." It's not just some files, it's not just a client list. It's literally a massive conspiracy to conceal that global pedo cabal you've heard about all this time. Only it involves so many billionaires, royals, politicians, banking institutions, universities, intelligence agencies and global leaders your head will spin. If anyone hasn't fully dived into the rabbit hole yet, these links are a good start.
NOTE: Every post I'm linking has verifiable sources. This is not some kooky conspiracy theory Kool Aid. This is all publicly available information, every name and every thread are connected. In many cases the details are corroborated by the other links.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SAVE OURSELVES IS TO EXPOSE THIS SHIT.
You’re dead right, Angie. Calling it “the files” or “the list” makes it sound small...like it’s just paperwork or gossip fodder. What we’re staring at is a conspiracy...a web that connects Epstein...Trump... Israel...Russia...and a cast of names that reach into the highest levels of power.
That’s why I’ll keep hammering this the way you’ve put it here: The Epstein Conspiracy. Because words matter. Framing matters. And if the public hears it in those terms...they understand it’s not just about lurid details...it’s about the machinery of corruption and control that’s still shaping events right now.
“Release the Epstein Conspiracy files” is exactly the demand. That’s the kind of clarity the other side fears most.
The first thing that I noticed is that Trump looks very ill. He looks like he could keel over at any time. This is not to take away from the subject of this article, but rather to remind all of us that Trump may not be around much longer. Any ideas or comments are welcome.
I’ve heard that observation from more than a few people lately, Robert. And you’re right... he doesn’t look like the man he was even a couple years ago.
But here’s the reminder: authoritarian projects don’t rise or fall on one body. They’re built on networks...enablers...and an agenda that keeps moving even if the figurehead falters.
That’s why my focus stays on the machinery behind him...Hegseth...Miller...Project 2025, and the rest. Because whether Trump lasts two more years or two more months...the threat to democracy is tied to his charisma...but it isn’t tied to his pulse. It’s tied to the movement he’s fronting.
So yes, we can notice the decline. But we can’t bank on it. The fight for democracy has to assume he stays on stage...and build enough strength that even if he exits...the authoritarian machine collapses under its own weight. I believe we have a rock solid shot of doing that.
Hi RR, there is a saying, ‘only the good die young’. I doubt the current pres will check out before this century is over. Who, in the after life, would want him?
Maybe Bren, but satan may fear our guy may insist upon an election for the office of top devil. The incumbent, of course, would likely win, but the loser would never stop whining that the election was rigged. Who needs that?!
You’re right, Verona...it is disturbing. And that’s the point of the spectacle: to paralyze decent people. But pushback exists. It starts with steady pressure on reps (yes...really) flooding local officials, exposing every authoritarian move...and refusing to let their narrative stand unchallenged.
The louder we are...the harder it is for them to normalize this. And the more citizens who step up alongside us...the less room these clowns have to maneuver. Pushback isn’t a single punch...it’s a daily grind of resistance that adds up until the machine cracks.
Will there be pushback on other, higher levels? Probably. However, we can't count on it. We have to demand it, every chance we get...while simultaneously carrying out our own actions, day after day, after day...like the only help we are going to get is going to come from ourselves. And...in the end, that could very well be the case.
I understand why people’s minds go there. When you see authoritarian theatrics...it’s natural to think “maybe the military will fix this.” But in the U.S....the oath those officers take isn’t to overthrow a government...it’s to defend the Constitution and stay under civilian control. That’s one of the last guardrails we’ve still got.
What we should hope for isn’t a coup. It’s that, when the line is crossed...enough senior officers refuse unlawful orders and uphold their oath. That’s lawful resistance...not a power grab.
And on our side of the glass...the work is the same: keep exposing what’s happening, keep pressure on elected officials...keep the democratic space alive so they know the public will back them if they stand up.
That’s how you beat a would-be dictator without replacing him with a junta.
Yes. I agree with you. You would think these possibilities would come to mind for them…unless they are just so caught up in their plan they can’t think straight. Who knows. Dt not understanding why his audience was silent seems strange. As Commander-in-Chief he should have some understanding of rules and standards for the military.
Thanks for that, Neil. What we saw really was a loyalty spectacle...a purge in plain sight. And you’re right: none of us can know exactly what’s running through the heads of those career generals right now.
But here’s what history and experience tell us: silence on a day like that doesn’t necessarily equal surrender. High-ranking officers know the law...the stakes...and the danger of tipping their hand too early. Some will cave...but many will bide their time...hold their cards close...and wait for the right moment to act.
Our job on the outside is to keep naming what’s happening...keep widening the public spotlight...and make sure those inside know the country will back them if they hold the line.
I wish I could hand you a guarantee. I can’t. What I can tell you is this: there are still a lot of officers in uniform who take their oath to the Constitution seriously...and they’ve seen first-hand what happens when countries let a strongman drag the military into politics.
Some will cave. But many will not. Remember LTC Vindman...he wasn’t the only one with a spine...he was simply the one who went public. There are more like him.
The question is whether enough of them will stand together...and that’s where public pressure and public courage matter.
Our job on the outside is to keep shining a light so that...when a line is crossed...those who still have a “Brave Heart” know the country will back them if they uphold their oath. That’s how you turn individual courage into a firewall.
Jack, are you saying that the senior military's silence was surrender? That's not what I read from what you wrote, so I'm wondering if the silent surrender you refer to is the surrender of Americans writ large if WE stay silent.
I've been reading about and listening to people today, and what I'm taking away is that the top military's silence was a good sign that their oath and professionalism are holding.
I'm wondering, based on your military experience, what comes next? What seems likely to you that military leaders are doing and talking about in hushed tones amongst themselves?
That’s exactly right, Julie...you're very astute. When I wrote “silent surrender,” I wasn’t describing the generals’ reaction. I was warning about our surrender if we stay silent.
The brass at Quantico looked stone-faced for a reason. Senior officers don’t clap or boo at a spectacle like that...and in this case their stillness looked more like discipline than submission.
What happens next is never shouted from the stage. It’s whispered behind closed doors...tested with quiet phone calls...and built into plans you’ll never see until the moment arrives.
My read is that many of those leaders are comparing notes...assessing the legal red lines... and mapping out how they’ll respond if unlawful orders ever cross their desks.
That’s why our job is to keep the public space alive and visible. When the line is crossed... they need to know there’s a country behind them if they uphold their oath. That’s not surrender...that’s how you build a firewall before the fire starts.
To be clear, I'm not wondering about coup talk. But it feels inevitable to me that the military will be faced with unlawful orders. What will happen then?
That’s the right question, Julie...and it’s not about coups. It’s about what happens when unlawful orders collide with the oath these officers swore. And yes...at some point... that collision feels inevitable.
What history shows is this: some will cave. Some will rationalize. But many will not.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice...decades of precedent...and the training drilled into these leaders give them both the authority and the duty to refuse orders that violate law or Constitution.
That’s not rebellion...that’s discipline.
What matters most is whether enough of them stand together...and that’s why the rest of us have to keep the spotlight on. The louder and clearer the public’s rejection of authoritarianism...the more cover it gives those leaders to do what their oath requires.
To say I’m scared is an understatement. I spent 30 years in the Air Force and I’ve been to places and have seen things that terrified me. I shouldn’t have to be in Our Country and feel terrified of what this regime can do. The problem is the majority of people don’t pay attention no matter how much and how loud some of us are speaking up and out. I will keep doing what I can do but I’m really hoping these Generals are as pissed off as we are and do something because they still have a lot of power!
The real hope we have is this: with every word Kegsbreath and Jabba said, it should have been very clear to them why their oath is to the Constitution and not to a single man. These are not stupid people. They see what’s going on. Having fought for this country in situations most of us cannot even imagine, against regimes the likes of which Jabba intends to recreate - that has to instill the heart and spine necessary to stop this. But they also can’t do it alone. October 18th is the next No Kings. Protest like your life depends on it, because it does. Go to fifty fifty.one and find the nearest protest near you and what you can do in addition to that.
You nailed the core truth, Bren. Every word out of Hegseth and Trump’s mouths should have reminded those generals exactly why their oath is to the Constitution...not to a man.
These are not fools...they’ve fought regimes like the one Trump is trying to recreate...and they know what’s at stake. That history has to stiffen their spine.
But you’re right: they can’t do it alone. That’s where we come in. October 18th is the next No Kings. Show up like your life depends on it...because it does. People should go the link in your comment to find your nearest protest and see what else they can do. This is the moment to prove we’re not just spectators.
So the plan is to train the military to go after citizens of the United States. I was expecting this at some point, because I’ve been paying attention, but now that it’s here, I feel sick to my stomach and can’t remember anything sane to do. I know I’m not helpless, Jack, but the fear has me feeling that way. I’ll need reminding of what we can do because my head is spinning
I hear you, Ronda.. What you’re feeling is exactly what authoritarian tactics are designed to do; overwhelm you...make you doubt your own power...make you freeze. That reaction doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re awake.
You are not helpless. We still have laws...representatives...courts...local officials...and a public that is far larger than any strongman’s inner circle.
The work now is to channel that sick feeling into steady...daily action: calls...letters... donations...amplifying real information...and refusing to let the abnormal feel normal.
That’s how citizens have always pushed back...and it still works.
I’ll keep reminding you...over and over...that fear is a weapon...but so is resolve.
Stay with me. We’re going to keep naming what’s happening...exposing it...and giving you practical steps so you’re never left spinning. You’re part of a much bigger line of people who refuse to surrender their country.
-Jack
Thanks, Jack. Exactly what I needed when I needed it.❤️🇺🇸🤘
I know exactly how you’re feeling because I’m feeling the same way. I don’t think I can eat. I keep remembering how proud my generation was about defeating fascism at the end of WWWII. The nation was proud of this accomplishment and also proud of the way the USA was helping European nations rebuild. Too many Americans today are too young to remember or understand who Americans are! This is devastating. A train wreck we saw happening. Why couldn’t we stop it?
We could not stop it because many people were and still are being lied to in heavy, continual doses, and they do not even question it. There are other people who pay no attention whatsoever.
Yes that’s true. Many going about their lives without any awareness of what the Pres is doing because they don’t keep up with the news.
Others are rooting for the wrong side.
I am not an optimist. I do not own rose colored glasses. But I have to wonder if, in addition to the potential horror this signifies, it also telegraphed intent so clearly that at the same moment a cadre of resistance was formed. I’d further prefer to believe that so many of our most respected military leaders know enough to know showing any reaction today would be a mistake. Unfortunately for us, like they say, “you never hear the shot that gets you”.
You’re reading this exactly the way seasoned people read it, Randy. Spectacle isn’t just a show of power...it’s also a giant flare that gives away intent.
And yes, inside any institution there are always quieter networks...officers who understand both the law and the stakes...who know not to tip their hand too early.
None of us can afford rose-colored glasses right now. But we also can’t afford despair. History shows that when authoritarian moves become too blatant...they also harden resistance. The public sees it. Insiders see it. Allies form in the shadows before they ever show their faces.
Your instinct is right: silence in a moment like this doesn’t always mean submission. Sometimes it’s patience. Sometimes it’s people lining up their own moves. Our job is to stay awake...stay vocal...and keep the democratic space open so when that resistance surfaces...it has a country ready to back it.
-Jack
Let’s hope that the military as a whole is smarter than to go after Americans, smart enough not to believe the lies, and smart enough to see through the whole plan. They must be smart enough to understand and uphold the Constitution as it now stands, above all else.
It seems, and has seemed all along, that everyone should have been wise and perceptive enough to keep us free of such a mess in the first place. I realize that these thoughts do not solve anything. Nonetheless, they are the most prominent thoughts of the moment.
Jack, I look forward to reading what you think we should do from this point onward. As always, thank you so much for all you do!
You’re right to hope, and you’re right to be angry that we ever landed in this mess.
The truth is...many in uniform do see through the lies...and the oath to the Constitution still matters to far more of them than Trump or Hegseth want you to believe.
But hoping isn’t enough...and despair won’t do. What comes next is on us: steady pressure on elected reps...constant exposure of the authoritarian playbook...and reminding the public that freedom isn’t self-sustaining—it survives because citizens fight for it every single day.
And that’s where I’ll keep my focus for you...on the concrete steps we can all take so that when history looks back...it won’t say we just watched this happen. It’ll say we pushed back.
-Jack
Thank you, Jack. May continual pressure with calls and messages to my brick wall strong supporter of that party in the House have an impact in the needed direction! Your encouragement for us means a lot. Also, I know how my family members and friends who were in the armed forces would have thought, and they would today if they were still living. I am proud of all of the people with fine character and strong values of duty. I appreciate that you pointed out how the majority of them must feel. I am sure they are wise.
You're most welcome. Have a restful night....(if it's nighttime where you are.)
-Jack
This. Every post needs to come with action reminders.
I feel sad and angry. I hope the flag leaders can join together and refuse to take their troops into cities to destroy American citizens. It would seem if they refuse they would only be left with the horrible ice brigade. I have to believe there are more US military than ice lackeys. Other countries have had their military overturn corrupt government. Maybe that will happen here
I hear you, Teri. Feeling sad and angry right now is the sane reaction. But don’t lose sight of this: the U.S. armed forces are far bigger...older...and more professional than the handful of “ice lackeys” you’re picturing. Most senior officers know their oath runs to the Constitution...not to a man.
Other countries have seen militaries crushed into serving a corrupt regime. But we’re not there yet. The very spectacle you’re seeing now also signals intent and stiffens spines inside the ranks. Plenty of flag officers understand that taking troops into U.S. cities against citizens would be a line they cannot cross.
Our part is to stay loud...organized, and visible so those leaders know the country is watching and will back them if they stand up. That’s how you turn this moment from a nightmare into a turning point.
-Jack
I have always felt there are more of us than them and after reading more opinions by writers on Substack I realized the flag officers silence was a show of solidarity and strength because the 2 fools thought they would get applause and it did not happen. Thanks for the response
Why isn’t Jack responding, commenting.
Mike, for future reference...I might respond to a comment an hour after it is made, or...it might be 2-3 days. Most often, it will be several hours...at the very least before I reply.
-Jack
He is;)
And we are so grateful! What a helpful gift!
That's kind of you. I'm glad you're here...as well:)
-Jack
Is there enough/majority of the generals who could be trusted to push back due to oath of Constitution? I just can’t imagine all would capitulate to a pair of madmen.
That instinct is right. The oath to the Constitution still matters to far more of the officer corps than Trump or Hegseth want you to believe. These are men and women who’ve spent their entire careers drilling that oath into their bones...and they know where the line is.
Will some capitulate? Always. But enough? No. History shows strongmen try to make it look unanimous...when in reality the resistance inside is larger and quieter than we see.
Silence today doesn’t mean surrender...it often means preparation.
The job for the rest of us is to stay loud...steady...and unshakable so those officers know they won’t stand alone if they hold the line.
-Jack
I understand why you’re asking this. It’s exactly what they want us to doubt...that anyone inside the system still takes the oath seriously. But remember: the officer corps is huge... diverse...and filled with people who’ve spent entire careers drilling the Constitution into their bones.
No, not every general will roll over for a pair of madmen. The military’s culture still runs on chain of command...yes...but also on law...precedent...and an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies.
That oath isn’t ceremonial; it’s the real anchor.
Authoritarians count on spectacle to make it look like unanimous submission. The reality is quieter...slower...more complicated...and there are far more officers who will quietly resist than headlines let on.
Our job is to keep the public space alive so those who would push back know the country is behind them.
-Jack
We need a few Deep Throat whistle blowers. But who would protect them? Where Woodward and Bernstein had the power of the press behind them, we have no such thing.
I have collected document after document (and continue to do so, they are posted here under another comment) showing the depths of the Trump-Epstein-Israel-Russia connections and I firmly believe there's a lot more to it. I am sharing them as many times as I can find the opportunity to do so all over Reddit and SubStack but my reach is very very small. There are more than a dozen links to follow and each is its own piece of the puzzle and its own rabbit hole. Not many people want to go down all of those. Fewer still can see the patterns and start putting together the bigger picture. No one wants to truly believe in a global pedo conspiracy.
But blowing this conspiracy wide open is the only hope we have and no one is paying attention. They think posting "Release the Epstein files!" is the key but that wouldn't expose Trump and Trump alone. Actually exposing Epstein's network would expose an enormous global power structure that is rapidly advancing with every blow to American democracy and it's institutions. Jack has talked about it, but not enough, (I'm sorry, Jack).
There is no leadership and no cohesive resistance. We all feel helpless to stop all of this because mostly we are. No one is going to save us and I don't think a true resistance will coalesce in time for us to save ourselves. Dems are complicit. They're powerless too, for other reasons. I don't know what to do except keep sharing my tranche of links and hope maybe someone with a big enough audience gets ahold of the story. Democracy is dying fast.
I know exactly the frustration you’re describing, Angie. Whistleblowers don’t come forward because they’re brave....they come forward because there’s a visible ecosystem ready to protect and amplify them.
In the 70s, that meant a few newspapers with monopoly reach. Today it’s fragmented. But fragmented doesn’t mean powerless.
What you’re doing...collecting...organizing...archiving...is exactly how big revelations start. No one ever wants to believe the scope at first; that’s why early documentation is so critical.
You’re building the map others will eventually need. That matters.
The next step isn’t to stop or despair. It’s to make your work easier for others to digest: clear timelines...visual charts...short “one rabbit hole at a time” explanations.
That’s how you grow an audience for complex truth...by giving them one handle at a time instead of a tangle. The appetite for receipts is there...but it has to be fed in pieces.
And I’ll keep using my platform to show people how to see the patterns...because you’re right: it isn’t just about “Release the Epstein files.”
It’s about exposing how power structures work and making sure the public still has the tools and courage to act on that knowledge. That’s the real fight for democracy
-Jack.
Thank you for the work you're doing, Jack. You're easily becoming one of my favorite voices on SubStack.
That means a great deal to me, Angie. I really appreciate that. Thank YOU.
-Jack
I just don’t see it that way Jack…no applause, stone faced; I take their reaction as a total rejection of what these two clowns were prattling on about…
James, could you clarify which part you see differently? I didn’t zero in on how the brass would react as much as on Trump’s endgame and the way he’s moving toward it.
What we saw in that room is exactly what you’d expect from senior military leaders at any event: no applause, no cheers, no boos. That’s standard protocol. It does make the mood harder to read, but there were still signals...and I agree with you...there was a healthy streak of defiance under the surface.
Everyone in that hall knew two ass-clowns were on stage with almost no credibility. Does that guarantee how they’ll act when the rubber truly meets the road? No. But it does tell you where you’d want to place your bets.
-Jack
I think, yes, for the most part but if there are videos of the audience it will be possible to tell how many of the officers are thinking. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in their place today.
Global pedo conspiracy is exactly right. That’s why whoever has this Epstein info needs to quit sitting on it and GET IT OUT IN THE OPEN. we have wasted enough time. Someone has to break the rules … Trump dies it all the time- and just get the Epstein info out to the public.
OK, Jack, but YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR AND THE VESTRY.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. Do you think we are deaf aand blind?
What we need is GUIDENCE ON HOW TO FIGHT BACK.
Yes, I know: VOTE AT THE MIDTERMS. We are going to do that, nut they ar FIFTEEN MONTHS AWAY! Donnie Boy and Hegsdeath will have done a barge load of harm by then.
WE NEED TO START FIGHTING TODAY.
FOR THE SAKE OF A NATION INDER SEIGE, SPEAK UP NOW!
I hear you. The anger in your note is exactly the fuel authoritarians hope to smother. And you’re right about one thing: waiting for midterms alone is not a plan.
But let me be clear about why I write the way I do. I never assume everyone already knows what’s going on...because most of the time, they don’t.
That’s exactly why I hammer these issues day after day. It’s how you wake up people who aren’t yet awake.
And I don’t just write and walk away. I speak up all day long...and so do many of the people reading this newsletter. Our job isn’t just to yell into the void; it’s to constantly grow the number of voices calling out what’s happening...showing receipts...making it impossible for this to stay hidden.
That’s how you fight back between elections. That’s how you keep the space for real resistance alive. I’ll keep laying out the steps you can take right now...and together we’ll keep widening the circle until it’s too big to ignore.
We need to CONTINUE fighting, and CONTINUE speaking out. That democracy loving Americans will continue to do so...I'm confident.
-Jack
P.S. Are you a new subscriber? I ask, because several times a week...I post clear, concise, no bullshit strategies of how to fight back. I have been for over two years now.
The reality? The strategies don't deviate much. They are the "put in the work" doing the basic things, over and over, day after day. There is no magic strategy. However, there can be...damn near magical seeming results...that come from enough people...doing the things they know...Every. Single. Day.
I heard one thing that sent chills up my spine and it came out of trump's mouth... when he was talking about sending armed troops into blue cities... he said "kill them". He told them to kill American citizens in the goddamned United States! "The enemy within" which is anyone and everyone who doesn't bow down to him. Democrats. This is the same rhetoric that Hitler used when he was referring to Jews. They're not only using P2025... They are using Hitler's playbook.
I think that we are way past "peaceful protest" lines. Next there will be bounties on our heads. There are going to be armed men at voting precincts during midterms, if even we get a chance to vote again. A shadow government should have been building since the day after he won the second term.
I heard the same words you did, Libbey...and you’re right...they were chilling. That kind of language is not a slip; it’s a test.
It’s designed to terrorize...to make decent people believe that violence is inevitable and resistance is futile. That’s exactly how strongmen set the stage.
But here’s what history also shows: regimes overplay their hand. When the mask drops too far, it not only frightens the public...it stiffens spines inside the very institutions a would-be dictator needs to control.
The rhetoric you’re hearing may be horrific, but it also telegraphs intent so clearly that it gives the rest of us, and the people inside the system, time to organize.
We are not past the point of non-violent action. Non-violent pressure...exposing the playbook...showing up in numbers...and keeping voting systems under public watch are still the tools that work...and they’re exactly the ones authoritarians most fear.
Our job isn’t to mirror their rage; it’s to outlast it...out-organize it...and keep the space for lawful resistance alive so that when the line is crossed...there’s a country ready to push back.
That’s what I’m going to keep doing here: naming it...showing you the receipts...and laying out steps so we’re never caught flat-footed.
-Jack
Time to brush up on your knowledge of "The Epstein Conspiracy." Not "the Files." Not "the Client List." Make no mistake. It's "The Epstein Conspiracy" and we need to start calling it that because that's exactly what it is. It involves Epstein. Trump. Israel. Russia. And lots and lots of people whose names you will recognize immediately. Big names. At the highest levels of government and far beyond.
RELEASE THE EPSTEIN CONSPIRACY FILES.
Here are the posts and articles I have collected detailing the depth of what I'm calling "The Epstein Conspiracy." It's not just some files, it's not just a client list. It's literally a massive conspiracy to conceal that global pedo cabal you've heard about all this time. Only it involves so many billionaires, royals, politicians, banking institutions, universities, intelligence agencies and global leaders your head will spin. If anyone hasn't fully dived into the rabbit hole yet, these links are a good start.
https://pc93.substack.com/p/the-alpha-and-omega-of-the-epstein?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahkendzior/p/red-lines?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahkendzior/p/servants-of-the-mafia-state?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://gregolear.substack.com/p/redacted-the-real-epstein-list?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://www.thenorthstar.com/p/jeffrey-epstein-didnt-evade-justice?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://www.jackhopkinsnow.com/p/why-epsteins-network-looks-like-intelligence?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://www.closertotheedge.net/p/what-putin-has-on-trump?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true&open=false
https://thiswillhold.substack.com/p/third-whistleblower-the-epstein-files?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://archive.is/9q5Us
https://thewestpointhistoryprofessor.substack.com/p/epstein-lives-out-his-last-days-is?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
https://www.jackhopkinsnow.com/p/what-massie-said-in-the-epstein-hearing?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh&triedRedirect=true
https://open.substack.com/pub/craigunger/p/from-both-sides-now?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://open.substack.com/pub/heidicuda/p/letters-to-bette-epstein-money-laundering?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://open.substack.com/pub/katemanne/p/the-actual-conspiracy-theory-surrounding?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://open.substack.com/pub/olgalautman/p/active-measures-how-the-kremlin-penetrated?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://open.substack.com/pub/ellieleonard/p/epsteins-little-black-book-the-whole?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/business/jeffrey-epstein-peter-thiel-estate.html (Use archive.is to bypass paywall)
https://www.finance.senate.gov/download/letter-from-senator-wyden-to-secretary-bessent-on-epstein-documentspdf
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article238237729.html
https://www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-peter-mandelson-asked-jeffrey-epstein-for-israel-advice/
https://electronicintifada.net/content/us-media-barely-touches-epstein-links-israeli-intelligence/50822
https://www.timesofisrael.com/antisemitic-conspiracies-about-jeffrey-epstein-go-mainstream-as-he-returns-to-headlines/
https://open.substack.com/pub/tarapalmeri/p/sen-murkowskis-ghislaine-maxwell?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1r9beh
NOTE: Every post I'm linking has verifiable sources. This is not some kooky conspiracy theory Kool Aid. This is all publicly available information, every name and every thread are connected. In many cases the details are corroborated by the other links.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SAVE OURSELVES IS TO EXPOSE THIS SHIT.
SHARE IT. EVERYWHERE.
You’re dead right, Angie. Calling it “the files” or “the list” makes it sound small...like it’s just paperwork or gossip fodder. What we’re staring at is a conspiracy...a web that connects Epstein...Trump... Israel...Russia...and a cast of names that reach into the highest levels of power.
That’s why I’ll keep hammering this the way you’ve put it here: The Epstein Conspiracy. Because words matter. Framing matters. And if the public hears it in those terms...they understand it’s not just about lurid details...it’s about the machinery of corruption and control that’s still shaping events right now.
“Release the Epstein Conspiracy files” is exactly the demand. That’s the kind of clarity the other side fears most.
And, appreciate the links.
-Jack
The first thing that I noticed is that Trump looks very ill. He looks like he could keel over at any time. This is not to take away from the subject of this article, but rather to remind all of us that Trump may not be around much longer. Any ideas or comments are welcome.
I’ve heard that observation from more than a few people lately, Robert. And you’re right... he doesn’t look like the man he was even a couple years ago.
But here’s the reminder: authoritarian projects don’t rise or fall on one body. They’re built on networks...enablers...and an agenda that keeps moving even if the figurehead falters.
That’s why my focus stays on the machinery behind him...Hegseth...Miller...Project 2025, and the rest. Because whether Trump lasts two more years or two more months...the threat to democracy is tied to his charisma...but it isn’t tied to his pulse. It’s tied to the movement he’s fronting.
So yes, we can notice the decline. But we can’t bank on it. The fight for democracy has to assume he stays on stage...and build enough strength that even if he exits...the authoritarian machine collapses under its own weight. I believe we have a rock solid shot of doing that.
-Jack
Hi RR, there is a saying, ‘only the good die young’. I doubt the current pres will check out before this century is over. Who, in the after life, would want him?
Satan’s new favorite?
South Park has the right idea. 😉
Maybe Bren, but satan may fear our guy may insist upon an election for the office of top devil. The incumbent, of course, would likely win, but the loser would never stop whining that the election was rigged. Who needs that?!
I don’t know; Jabba admires strongmen. 🤣
Frightening! What’s the pushback?
You’re right, Verona...it is disturbing. And that’s the point of the spectacle: to paralyze decent people. But pushback exists. It starts with steady pressure on reps (yes...really) flooding local officials, exposing every authoritarian move...and refusing to let their narrative stand unchallenged.
The louder we are...the harder it is for them to normalize this. And the more citizens who step up alongside us...the less room these clowns have to maneuver. Pushback isn’t a single punch...it’s a daily grind of resistance that adds up until the machine cracks.
Will there be pushback on other, higher levels? Probably. However, we can't count on it. We have to demand it, every chance we get...while simultaneously carrying out our own actions, day after day, after day...like the only help we are going to get is going to come from ourselves. And...in the end, that could very well be the case.
-Jack
Can we hope for a military coup? All the generals are in one spot. Surely they can make a plan.
I understand why people’s minds go there. When you see authoritarian theatrics...it’s natural to think “maybe the military will fix this.” But in the U.S....the oath those officers take isn’t to overthrow a government...it’s to defend the Constitution and stay under civilian control. That’s one of the last guardrails we’ve still got.
What we should hope for isn’t a coup. It’s that, when the line is crossed...enough senior officers refuse unlawful orders and uphold their oath. That’s lawful resistance...not a power grab.
And on our side of the glass...the work is the same: keep exposing what’s happening, keep pressure on elected officials...keep the democratic space alive so they know the public will back them if they stand up.
That’s how you beat a would-be dictator without replacing him with a junta.
-Jack
It seems that possibility would worry hegstooth and dt. If the military desired there would be no physical defense for the administration.
Yes. I agree with you. You would think these possibilities would come to mind for them…unless they are just so caught up in their plan they can’t think straight. Who knows. Dt not understanding why his audience was silent seems strange. As Commander-in-Chief he should have some understanding of rules and standards for the military.
That would be AWESOME, but I doubt that will happen.
A spot on read Jack 😎👊🏼
"It was a loyalty spectacle. A purge in plain sight. A strongman rehearsal…staged at Quantico…but aimed at the nation."
One can only speculate what career generals are feeling right now 😳
Thanks for that, Neil. What we saw really was a loyalty spectacle...a purge in plain sight. And you’re right: none of us can know exactly what’s running through the heads of those career generals right now.
But here’s what history and experience tell us: silence on a day like that doesn’t necessarily equal surrender. High-ranking officers know the law...the stakes...and the danger of tipping their hand too early. Some will cave...but many will bide their time...hold their cards close...and wait for the right moment to act.
Our job on the outside is to keep naming what’s happening...keep widening the public spotlight...and make sure those inside know the country will back them if they hold the line.
-Jack
Thank you Jack, this is fascists coming for our military, with the aim of making this a dictatorship.
You're welcome, Allen. I agree.
-Jack
Will our Generals and Admirals surrender this easily OR will they have LTC Vindman's Brave Heart ?
I wish I could hand you a guarantee. I can’t. What I can tell you is this: there are still a lot of officers in uniform who take their oath to the Constitution seriously...and they’ve seen first-hand what happens when countries let a strongman drag the military into politics.
Some will cave. But many will not. Remember LTC Vindman...he wasn’t the only one with a spine...he was simply the one who went public. There are more like him.
The question is whether enough of them will stand together...and that’s where public pressure and public courage matter.
Our job on the outside is to keep shining a light so that...when a line is crossed...those who still have a “Brave Heart” know the country will back them if they uphold their oath. That’s how you turn individual courage into a firewall.
-Jack
Thank you.
You're welcome, EL.
-Jack
Jack, are you saying that the senior military's silence was surrender? That's not what I read from what you wrote, so I'm wondering if the silent surrender you refer to is the surrender of Americans writ large if WE stay silent.
I've been reading about and listening to people today, and what I'm taking away is that the top military's silence was a good sign that their oath and professionalism are holding.
I'm wondering, based on your military experience, what comes next? What seems likely to you that military leaders are doing and talking about in hushed tones amongst themselves?
That’s exactly right, Julie...you're very astute. When I wrote “silent surrender,” I wasn’t describing the generals’ reaction. I was warning about our surrender if we stay silent.
The brass at Quantico looked stone-faced for a reason. Senior officers don’t clap or boo at a spectacle like that...and in this case their stillness looked more like discipline than submission.
What happens next is never shouted from the stage. It’s whispered behind closed doors...tested with quiet phone calls...and built into plans you’ll never see until the moment arrives.
My read is that many of those leaders are comparing notes...assessing the legal red lines... and mapping out how they’ll respond if unlawful orders ever cross their desks.
That’s why our job is to keep the public space alive and visible. When the line is crossed... they need to know there’s a country behind them if they uphold their oath. That’s not surrender...that’s how you build a firewall before the fire starts.
-Jack
I agree. I think the top brass’ silence was professionalism not capitulation
Agreed, Holly.
To be clear, I'm not wondering about coup talk. But it feels inevitable to me that the military will be faced with unlawful orders. What will happen then?
That’s the right question, Julie...and it’s not about coups. It’s about what happens when unlawful orders collide with the oath these officers swore. And yes...at some point... that collision feels inevitable.
What history shows is this: some will cave. Some will rationalize. But many will not.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice...decades of precedent...and the training drilled into these leaders give them both the authority and the duty to refuse orders that violate law or Constitution.
That’s not rebellion...that’s discipline.
What matters most is whether enough of them stand together...and that’s why the rest of us have to keep the spotlight on. The louder and clearer the public’s rejection of authoritarianism...the more cover it gives those leaders to do what their oath requires.
-Jack
To say I’m scared is an understatement. I spent 30 years in the Air Force and I’ve been to places and have seen things that terrified me. I shouldn’t have to be in Our Country and feel terrified of what this regime can do. The problem is the majority of people don’t pay attention no matter how much and how loud some of us are speaking up and out. I will keep doing what I can do but I’m really hoping these Generals are as pissed off as we are and do something because they still have a lot of power!
The real hope we have is this: with every word Kegsbreath and Jabba said, it should have been very clear to them why their oath is to the Constitution and not to a single man. These are not stupid people. They see what’s going on. Having fought for this country in situations most of us cannot even imagine, against regimes the likes of which Jabba intends to recreate - that has to instill the heart and spine necessary to stop this. But they also can’t do it alone. October 18th is the next No Kings. Protest like your life depends on it, because it does. Go to fifty fifty.one and find the nearest protest near you and what you can do in addition to that.
You nailed the core truth, Bren. Every word out of Hegseth and Trump’s mouths should have reminded those generals exactly why their oath is to the Constitution...not to a man.
These are not fools...they’ve fought regimes like the one Trump is trying to recreate...and they know what’s at stake. That history has to stiffen their spine.
But you’re right: they can’t do it alone. That’s where we come in. October 18th is the next No Kings. Show up like your life depends on it...because it does. People should go the link in your comment to find your nearest protest and see what else they can do. This is the moment to prove we’re not just spectators.
-Jack