February 12, 2025: There are bad days in politics.
And then there are collapse-on-live-television days.
Yesterday was the latter.
On our Substack Live — with Lev Parnas, Ellie Leonard, and Zev Shalev and yours truly — we unpacked what can only be described as a complete psychological and moral implosion from two people orbiting Donald Trump’s Epstein problem:
Michael Cohen
Pam Bondi
One melted down on social media and in interviews.
The other melted down under oath.
And neither looked innocent.
Michael Cohen vs. “The Wolfpack” (LOL)
Let’s start with the main character of yesterday’s crash-out.
Michael Cohen — Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, fixer, bagman, and admitted payoff specialist — decided that instead of answering questions about what he knew regarding underage girls and hush money, he would threaten to sue us.
Yes. Us.
He called us the “Wolfpack,” which, frankly, sounds like a Netflix docuseries waiting to happen. I’ll take it.
But here’s what actually happened.
We asked a simple question:
If you were Donald Trump’s fixer…
If you admitted in court to paying off women…
If you requested a reduced sentence citing what you knew about Trump’s misconduct…
If your name appears repeatedly in proximity to Epstein-related material…
What do you know?
That’s it. That’s the question.
And instead of answering it, Cohen spiraled.
He demanded apologies.
He threatened lawsuits and changed his story on Joy Reid. Again.
He framed himself as the victim (blood pressure, nurses, “I’ve been smeared, etc).
The man who built his career cleaning up Trump’s messes now wants sympathy because journalists asked him whether he cleaned up this one.
That’s not how this works.
What Cohen Said — And Why It Matters
Cohen has previously acknowledged:
He was Trump’s personal fixer.
He arranged payments to silence women.
He lied for Trump.
He went to prison for Trump-related crimes.
He said he was willing to trade salacious information with the DOJ about Epstein/Trump for a shorter sentance
Says he paid off a different underage victim - which is still very bad
Those are facts.
So when someone with that résumé insists we’re “ruining his life” for asking whether he knows anything about payments connected to minors or Epstein-adjacent misconduct, the response is simple:
If you know nothing — say so clearly.
If you know something — tell the truth.
If you once claimed you knew more in order to shorten your sentence — clarify it.
Threatening lawsuits against journalists asking about child abuse isn’t a great look.
Especially not in 2026.
Especially not after the document releases.
Especially not after the redactions.
Especially not while victims are still waiting.
Lev Stood On Business
While Cohen flailed, Lev Parnas stood exactly where he’s been standing: with survivors.
Lev was physically present during the oversight hearing yesterday.
He stood with victims.
He faced the Department of Justice.
He didn’t hide.
He didn’t mock.
He didn’t threaten lawsuits.
He demanded answers.
That contrast matters.
Pam Bondi’s Congressional Disaster
Now let’s talk about the Attorney General.
If you didn’t watch the hearing, here’s the short version:
It was catastrophic.
Bondi refused to:
Commit to interviewing Epstein survivors.
Explain why Donald Trump’s name was redacted more than 950,000 times in the files.
Clarify why key sections remain sealed.
Address why no meaningful DOJ survivor outreach has occurred.
Instead?
She mocked the premise.
She dismissed questions.
She pivoted to talking about the Dow and the Nasdaq.
Yes. The stock market.
When asked about survivors of child trafficking.
That’s not governance.
That’s evasion.
And it didn’t land.
Members of Congress — including Republicans — looked stunned.
The room shifted.
The mood changed.
The walls didn’t close in on Bondi yesterday.
They collapsed.
The Redactions No One Can Explain
Nearly one million redactions tied to one name.
Let’s pause there.
Redactions happen to protect:
Ongoing investigations
Sensitive sources
Victim identities
National security
But when a political figure’s name appears in redacted form at that volume, and the Attorney General refuses to explain why — that’s not standard procedure.
That’s a crisis of confidence.
Bondi didn’t provide clarity.
She provided attitude.
And that’s a tell.
Zero Tolerance Means Zero Tolerance
Here’s the line in the sand.
This is not about party.
It’s not about conservative vs. liberal.
It’s not about personality.
It’s about children.
It’s about decades of abuse.
It’s about networks of power.
It’s about who knew.
It’s about who facilitated.
It’s about who covered up.
And it’s about who still refuses to answer.
Zero Tolerance means:
No excuses for proximity.
No immunity for loyalty.
No protection because someone flipped later.
No patience for gaslighting.
If you were around it — answer.
If you knew — say it.
If you helped cover it up — face it.
It’s that simple.
When powerful people think they can intimidate journalists into silence and it doesn’t work, they escalate.
They threaten.
They deflect.
They attack.
But yesterday, the intimidation didn’t land.
Cohen looked frantic.
Bondi looked defensive.
The talking points didn’t hold.
And when intimidation fails, collapse follows.
You could see it.
Democracy Had a Good Day
This wasn’t just a “bad day for Trump.”
It was a good day for democracy.
Because:
The questions were asked publicly.
Survivors were visible.
Lev stood with them.
The Attorney General had to answer.
The threats were exposed.
Sunlight doesn’t move backward.
And no amount of social media rage or legal saber-rattling can stuff this genie back in the bottle.
What Happens Next
Michael Cohen wants apologies.
Pam Bondi wants distractions.
Survivors want justice.
We know which side we’re on.
Zero tolerance isn’t a slogan.
It’s a commitment.
And if yesterday showed anything, it’s this:
The regime isn’t closing ranks.
It’s cracking.
Watch closely.
It’s coming.
And there’s nothing they can do about it anymore.
Thank you Cat: Poli-Psych, Lyudmila and Daniel, John Liccione, Caro Henry, Glyn Lehmann, and many others for tuning into my live video with Zev Shalev, Lev Parnas, and Ellie Leonard! Join me for my next live video in the app.
