The Friday Dispatch: We Can't Handle the Truth?
Epstein fractures MAGA, tariffs rattle the world, and the missiles keep flying—but in the margins, faith, soil, and sanity quietly take root.
This has been a whirlwind of a week. Let’s start off with what everyone is talking about: A rift widened in Donald Trump’s base after the DOJ stated there’s no secret client list in Epstein’s archives. This comes as a massive reversal sparking fury and outrage among even hardline supporters like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. A Reuters-Ipsos poll finds 69% of Americans believe key details are being purposefully concealed as trust continues to plummet, culminating in Trump lashing out at supporters on Truth Social. But at least we’re getting Mexican Coke in lieu of Mexican migrants.
Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal wasted no time in revealing a supposed letter exchange between Trump and Epstein from 2003. Trump and J.D. Vance have both denied these claims, and many on social media have remarked how the writing doesn’t sound like Trump’s voice at all. Who should we trust less: the political elites or journalists?
Late-night edit: Looks like popular pressure works. Trump is pushing to release whatever he can. Take that (maybe?), journos.
On the economic front, Trump’s prepping a tariff barrage against over 150 nations. Globalists are in full panic mode. DC consultants are tweeting through it. But the move reveals something bigger: as the neoliberal consensus crumbles, we’re entering a new age of economic nationalism—less McKinsey, more Hamilton. Less G7 retreat, more Main Street revival.
At the same time, crypto finally leapt from fringe to front row. The House passed both the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts, attempting to tame the digital frontier. Even Democrats backed it. You can almost hear Wall Street trying to figure out how to make crypto boring.
In the UK, the Enlightenment is officially on life support. Over 500 measles cases and one death have been confirmed this year. Officials blame the unvaccinated and misinformation. However, most cases are concentrated in migrant-heavy London boroughs like Hackney, Newham, and Tower Hamlets.
Over in Germany, Chancellor Merz’s coalition stumbled this week when a vote to confirm SPD’s nominee to the Constitutional Court was postponed amid plagiarism allegations and far-left activism. The AfD, eyes on the chaos, is maneuvering to exploit the split—Europe’s once-stable center is cracking. Maybe the indigenous Germans will finally be heard by their ruling class.
Across the Mediterranean in Gaza, a strike hit the only Catholic church in the region with three civilians dead, including the parish priest. The Latin Patriarchate condemned it, even stating that it may not have been an accident. Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire. The White House mumbled something about asking Netanyahu to make a statement, which he eventually did. We spent 20 years exporting democracy to the Middle East. Now it looks like we’re just exporting death.
But back to Trump: this week, he fast-tracked Patriot missile shipments to Ukraine. A strange pivot, considering his previous stance—but perhaps it’s not about ending wars anymore, just managing the optics better than Biden.
And while the missiles fly abroad, relief lands in Texas as churches continue to lead flood relief efforts. In Kerr County, TX, faith communities mobilized in extraordinary ways after the July 4th flash floods devastated the area. Dozens of churches partnered with Samaritan’s Purse, Mercy Chefs, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to: provide meals, shelter, and cleanup support; coordinate counseling, vigils, and solidarity events; and deploy volunteer teams to rebuild homes and hearts.
A video of two co-workers having an affair at a Coldplay concert went viral this week. But here’s the surprise: people were outraged—not entertained. Maybe there’s still hope for a moral America after all.
Finally, a quieter revival is underway. Last week, EWTN launched a new series spotlighting Catholic homesteaders—families turning soil and scripture into something lasting. Families are leaving cities, planting gardens, and reading actual books. Think less prepper, more psalmist.
Thanks for reading! If you believe the West is worth saving, then The Oak Remains is for you.
I write to uncover truth, restore forgotten foundations, and chart a way forward through faith, history, and first principles.
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