Trump’s Epstein scandal reveals 'something truly, deeply awful' about U.S. politics

Political Analysis - The report suggests that Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case fallout might create a divide between him and his MAGA base [2] - The analysis questions whether the "laws of political gravity" will finally apply to Trump, considering past scandals like January 6th and challenging election results were insufficient to diminish his support [2][3] - The report highlights a dissonance: Trump's overall approval rating is down to 37%, but he maintains 90-91% approval among Republicans [11][12][20] - The analysis points out that the Republican electorate is larger than the MAGA base, but the MAGA base provides Trump with a high floor of support [13][14] - The report forecasts challenges for the Republican party in 2028, as they will need to find a way to hold together the coalition that Trump built [16][17] Media & Public Perception - The report notes that the Epstein case has hallmarks of a typical Washington scandal, involving cover-ups and finger-pointing [4][5] - The media's coverage of the Epstein files is being questioned, with some suggesting there is "no there there" [9] - Republicans and Democrats may find common ground in their disapproval of how the White House is handling the Epstein case, although for different reasons [21][22] - The report suggests that Democrats may be using the Epstein case to extract political gain from Trump [23] Trump's Strategy - The analysis suggests Trump follows his base's cues, which is part of the reason he is involved in the Epstein issue [15] - The report indicates Trump is paying the price for chasing lies and conspiracy theories to appeal to his base [6]