Today, democracy failed another test.

This morning when I woke up, I had one thing, and one thing only, on my mind. And unfortunately, it was the Epstein files. Which is a very odd thing to be thinking about the moment you open your eyes, right? But that’s who we are these days. I wondered if we were about to cross another line into authoritarianism. Because today was day 30 since the signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and that meant the government had a legal deadline. The files had to be fully released today. Or they’d be breaking the law.

Their release was a test. Not just of what they might show, but of whether our government would follow its own rules. And they failed. The Trump administration broke the law today. There’s no softer way to say it.

Day 333 of Trump’s presidency. December 19, 2025.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the Department of Justice to release all unclassified Epstein-related records within 30 days. And they did release some of the files, but only a fraction of them, less than 2 percent, by some early counts. And what they did release was heavily redacted, as expected. One section alone was 80 full pages of solid black ink.

Here is what the act says:

SEC. 2. RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

(a) Deadline. Public information. In General.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall, subject to subsection (b), make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices, that relate to:

(1) Jeffrey Epstein including all investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters.

(2) Ghislaine Maxwell.

(3) Flight logs or travel records, including but not limited to manifests, itineraries, pilot records, and customs or immigration documentation, for any aircraft, vessel, or vehicle owned, operated, or used by Jeffrey Epstein or any related entity.

(4) Individuals, including government officials, named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory proceedings.

(5) Entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, or governmental) with known or alleged ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks.

(6) Any immunity deals, non-prosecution agreements, plea bargains, or sealed settlements involving Epstein or his associates.

(7) Internal DOJ communications, including emails, memos, meeting notes, concerning decisions to charge, not charge, investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates.

(8) All communications, memoranda, directives, logs, or metadata concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration, misplacement, or concealment of documents, recordings, or electronic data related to Epstein, his associates, his detention and death, or any investigative files.

And what was in the documents? A lot of what we expected. Bill Clinton appeared in multiple photos with women whose faces were blacked out, in a hot tub, and in group shots. There were also images of Mick Jagger, Woody Allen, other well-known men, and of course Epstein himself. But nothing new. Nothing we didn’t already know.

Instead of what we did see, I was more concerned about what we didn’t see. There was no visible mention of Donald Trump in the initial search results, even though his close relationship with Epstein is well-documented. Even Susie Wiles, Trump’s current chief of staff and one of his most trusted advisers, has publicly acknowledged the connection. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Wiles said, “We know he’s in the file. And he’s not in the file doing anything awful.” She confirmed that Trump “was on [Epstein’s] plane... he’s on the manifest.” Then she added, “They were, you know, sort of young, single, whatever, I know it’s a passé word but sort of young, single playboys together.”So where is it? Why is his name missing entirely?

Then there’s this, and I can’t believe I’m quoting Fox News, but according to their own reporting: “Fox News Digital has learned that the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials.” In other words, the Justice Department may have deliberately redacted names of powerful people in politics.

But here’s the problem: that directly violates the law that Trump himself signed.

In The Epstein Files Transparency Act, it specifically states, under Section 2, Subsection 4, that the DOJ must release documents relating to:

“Individuals, including government officials, named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory proceedings.”

The law doesn’t say “unless they’re powerful.” It doesn’t say “unless they’re politically connected.” It doesn’t say “unless they’re close to the president.”

So if Clinton’s name is in the files, and he’s a former government official, but other names are blacked out, who are they protecting? Is it about political loyalty? Is it about money? Are the ones who got redacted the ones who refused to donate? Or are they protecting the people who have something to hide, or something to offer in return?

And with Susie Wiles, Trump’s own chief of staff, confirming that Trump was on Epstein’s plane, that his name is on the manifest, and describing them as “young, single playboys”, why isn’t he in the files at all?

Because this isn’t transparency. What the government is doing is in direct violation of what the law demands. And they’re doing it like no one’s going to stop them.

So what happens now?

What’s the actual punishment for breaking this law? What’s the remedy for forcing the Trump administration to follow through and release what they’re legally required to release? I’ve been trying to find a clear answer to that, and the truth is, there doesn’t seem to be one. According to the Associated Press, even legal experts are saying that “there’s ‘no teeth’ behind the law enforcing DOJ to release all Epstein files.” In other words, they passed a law with a firm deadline, but no clear consequences if that deadline is ignored.

There are reports that a few members of Congress are preparing articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi for refusing to comply. And they should. But let’s be honest about what it would take. It was difficult enough just to get the vote to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act in the first place, a bill that had bipartisan support and overwhelming public demand. The idea that this Congress, under Trump’s control, would have the political will to remove a cabinet-level official over noncompliance with that very law? It’s possible, but it’s unlikely.

So we’re left with this: the Trump administration can sign a law, break it openly, and nothing happens. And this is exactly the kind of breakdown the people who wrote our Constitution didn’t plan for. They didn’t imagine a president so willing to violate the rule of law without hesitation. They assumed basic decency would act as a guardrail. And if that failed, they assumed the vice president would step in. Or Congress. Or the courts.

But that only works if each of those institutions is functioning independently. If they’re not, if the president controls the Justice Department, the vice president, the House, and has tilted the Supreme Court in his favor, as he has right now, then none of those checks matter. They exist in name only. And that’s exactly where we are. The rules are still written on paper, but there’s no one left inside the system willing to enforce them.

We’ll have to see how this plays out. Unfortunately, timing isn’t on our side either. It’s the weekend before Christmas, and most of the country and lawmakers are already winding down. That likely means we won’t see any significant movement on this until after the new year.

Unfortunately, the news wasn’t limited to the Epstein files today.

Earlier this morning, the building known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts had a new name added above its own: “The Donald J. Trump and.” That’s right, they’ve now added Trump’s name to a building dedicated to the memory of a president who was assassinated while serving in office. A space meant to honor legacy, service, and sacrifice now also bears the name of a man who incited an insurrection, has been found guilty of 34 felony counts, and openly admires foreign dictators. So a building created to memorialize a fallen president now carries the name of the man actively dismantling democracy.

And then there were the 1.45 million U.S. service members who were promised a $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” bonus during Trump’s prime-time spectacle two nights ago. He claimed the money came from tariffs on foreign countries. That was a lie. According to Pentagon officials and confirmed by multiple outlets, the funds are actually being redirected from existing Department of Defense housing and personnel budgets. Money that was already earmarked for military families is being repackaged as a political stunt, a fake “bonus” sold as if it came from strength, when it’s really just coming from somewhere else in the same account. It’s sleight of hand meant to create the illusion of abundance. And it’s deeply disrespectful to the people who serve.

Meanwhile, four people died in ICE custody just this week, bringing the 2025 death toll to at least 30, the highest in two decades. Advocates say this isn’t a mystery. Overcrowding, poor medical care, and bureaucratic neglect have been well-documented. As of late November, ICE was detaining roughly 66,000 people, far beyond the system’s capacity. A government that allows this is not fit to lead. The ICE raids and treatment of our fellow human beings will be remembered not just as corrupt policy choices, but as moral failures. And history will not be kind to those who enabled it.

Even the people inside the system are trying to get out. Today, Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Elise Stefanik, both high-profile Republican lawmakers, announced they won’t be running for reelection in 2026, and Elise Stefanik also dropped out of the gubernatorial race. When the people helping to build the machine start stepping away from it, that’s a sign of deeper collapse. Because if even they can’t keep pretending it works, why should the rest of us?

The signs aren’t subtle anymore about what is happening to our country. They’re loud, constant, and growing stronger. We are deeper into a fascist takeover than most are willing to admit, led by a man who added his name to a building meant to honor a president who died in service to his country. That is authoritarianism. Every line he crosses brings us closer to a point where we can’t turn back. Where elections won’t be enough.

The world sees it. And they’re growing more unsettled by the day. Because if it can happen here, where democracy was supposed to be the foundation, they know it can happen anywhere. They’re asking why we’re not doing more. And I’m wondering the same.

But it’s also the holidays. This is the time of year we’re told to slow down, to soak in the moments with the people we love. But it’s hard to do that when it feels like the country is on fire. And the water to put it out is running low. That’s the weight so many of us are carrying right now. How do you show up for your family, your traditions, your joy, while also trying to save a democracy? How do you celebrate while the house is burning?

For me, I find hope in the cracks that weren’t there before. In the lawmakers quietly stepping down because even they can’t pretend this is normal. And I see it in my own community too. The people who used to stay quiet are starting to speak. This week alone, I had more than one conversation with someone who told me they were done because of what Trump said about Rob Reiner. Just like when he lost military supporters after calling fallen soldiers “losers and suckers.” It’s the same pattern. Maybe those who’ve been the hardest to reach just needed one more reminder.

So we keep reminding them.
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather

P.S. If you’ve made it this far, chances are we see things the same way. You can help keep this work going by subscribing to my Substack; there’s a free option, or you can become a paid subscriber for just $5 a month. Paid subscriptions help me reach more people, cover more ground, and keep telling the truth about what’s happening to our country.