THE EPSTEIN FILES: WHAT IS BEHIND IT AND WHAT CAN WE DO?

In our last week’s newsletter, we dove into the reason why we have not reported on the release of the vast information from the Israeli intelligence agent Jeffrey Epstein. In the released files, massive amounts of incriminating information surfaced about politicians and others in the public domain. The documents show that the agent Jeffrey Epstein played a central role in orchestrating criminal activity ranging from human trafficking to murder with the purpose of gaining control over influential people for the Israeli government. With that being so, and adding that we knew about these things before, why did we not report on this until now? First, security concerns about our journalistic work have prevented us from delving into the case's implications. However, since the files have now been released and public discourse has brought these atrocities into the mainstream, we are less reluctant to report on this case. Second, we do not want to give these people a platform to strengthen their communicative agenda. As we will see later, there are reasons why the information has surfaced and why it is desired that the public discourse focuses on this topic right now. Third, our communication guidelines promote a positive, constructive dialogue to advance societal progress. Therefore, dealing with the summary of the atrocities only worsens the situation.

In this article, we are therefore focusing less on describing exactly what politicians or business magnates did and more on why the Epstein files were released and how we, as good citizens, must deal with them to counter the agenda of these criminals. We should always remember that we name those criminals “powerful” because we vest them with power, whether through our consumption choices or through our attention and emotions. The formula is easy: When we citizens take these things away, those criminals are left with nothing because their being is built on the subordination and control of others, as their actions have no objective value.

Release Of The Files: Control Through Emotions

Two years ago, we clearly established that emotions play an important part in politics. The primary mechanism at work here is that emotions hinder us from making sound decisions. Whether positive or negative, the presence of strong emotions will always lead us to less effective decisions because we perceive reality in a distorted way when our feelings become more dominant than our logical thought processes. For example, when we are very happy, we tend to underestimate things, exposing ourselves to risks. In turn, when we feel angry, we have limited capacity to perceive information and our surroundings because our focus is solely directed towards the source of anger. Looking at the cruel things prominent people did, it is very difficult to suppress anger, so we overlook many other things happening right now. The de facto annexation of Venezuela by the United States of America (hereinafter: USA), for example, has almost disappeared from the media landscape. Similarly, the protests in Iran, the continued strikes of Israel on Lebanon or the return of the USA in Syria. However, we do not know what will happen in the coming weeks. If a major international event occurs, which would not be surprising, this will cover up the scandal around the many compromised politicians. So, either the release is a decoy to flip the agenda of the international dialogue, or it is to get this uncomfortable reality out to the public and make people forget with another major upcoming development. Therefore, one reason the files surfaced is to distract our attention and keep us from making a sound decision about what is important and true.

A second effect is also at play here in terms of emotions: Lethargy. When confronted with negative situations, we have the tendency to quickly want to react to the situation to resolve it. Naturally, when it directly happens to us, we are even more invested in the search for a solution. In this case, we are enraged, but the matter is too far and intangible for us to effectively counteract it (At least we perceive this to be this way; shortly, we will see that this is not the case.). Therefore, the release of the Epstein files serves as a moment for people to voice their anger and disgust, mainly through social media and in personal interaction with family, friends and colleagues. Because we believe that we cannot do anything, the anger quickly fades and the situation becomes an accepted reality. Similarly, we reported on the functioning of this effect in this case commentary on Palestine. Here, too, we were outraged and wanted to do something, but because the global society limited its responses to social media, a subconscious thought emerged that we had already done what we could, and the suffering continued. This effect is also present here.

Third, the release of the Epstein files addresses a vast majority of the global population, making this topic very accessible for many people and, in turn, making many people accessible for those who controlled the release of the files. In other words, the release of the files also manipulates the global society through the pyramid of language. On the second level of the pyramid, people are very concerned with negative events and risks. This is a very negative event. Therefore, those people can be controlled through the emotion of anxiousness. Being confronted with this information makes them value security even more, forcing them to be overly cautious and prone to follow the lead of people whom they trust. At the third level, people are the main topic of communication. Here, the release of the Epstein files works in a way that keeps the agenda busy. “Have you heard about my favourite celebrity being a cruel person?” is a topic that fills the agenda of such people, keeping them from more productive tasks by binding them emotionally. At the fourth level, where people are concerned with themselves, the release of the files triggers a certain type of arrogance centred around the motto “I would never do that”. However, because many of the criminals from the files are probably located at this level, there might also be a subconscious admiration attached to the power of those people. That is not to say that people located at this level are generally prone to do such atrocities, but they will approach this event from a different cognitive angle.

How To Punish Those Criminals?

Now, the central question is how we can punish those criminals? What can we do, now that we surely know who did what? First of all, it should be clear that none of the politicians, singers, actors and business people will be legally punished – maybe just a few lesser-known names. The reason they are involved in this scandal is that this is the foundation of the Israeli government to control those people. If they are punished, another compromised person needs to be installed, so that control can be exercised, which, in turn, is expensive. It is a business decision. Therefore, the global society needs to punish those criminals. The main reason why this is possible and the only way to effectively do so is that all of the criminals aim for one thing in particular: power. Power is relative, and their power relates to the populations of this world. If we deny access to this source of power, they will lose. But how can we do this?

Withdraw Consumption

The main aspect is to radically reduce consumption. Of course, reducing the consumption of goods and services of companies whose leading figures we know from the Epstein files are compromised is an important first step. However, there is a dark number of companies out there that are linked to similarly cruel operations. Also, the global economy is so interconnected that the global volume itself is often enough to keep the vast circles of influential people afloat. Therefore, if we decide to radically reduce consumption to a necessary minimum, and also direct the remaining consumption towards goods and services from clean people, change will come sooner than expected (to learn more about the Death of Consumption, click here; to learn more about Truth and Consumption, click here). What is important to remember is that music, news, media and fashion count as consumption, too. These realms are especially infected by criminals and their destructive agendas. Therefore, removing these from our consumption lists is paramount in punishing those who appeared in the Epstein files and those who have not yet been caught.

Here is an overview of things that we can do:

• Avoid fast food and big food brands McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Coca-Cola (and related products), Kraft Heinz products, Nestlé products (list not exhaustive)
• Buy local/national fashion
• Buy local/national electronics
• Assess every purchase in terms of investment value For example: Buying a book is an investment; going out to eat is consumption.

Withdraw Attention

Leaning on the USA Curse, our attention is very valuable. Whatever we focus on grows. This is the reason, as we said in the introduction, that we do not summarise the atrocities revealed in the Epstein files; we do not want them to grow. Rather, we want to direct our attention to those things that bring us forward. Therefore, we focus on what we can do, rather than on what we feel. Intertwined with the last point from the last paragraph, our discursive and creative attention needs to be withdrawn from these topics in the mid-run. That way, the emotional effects cannot impair our decision-making capabilities, and we will make more sound assessments on political developments. We will make better decisions on who to vote for, where to exercise political pressure, what we legitimise and what we deem as normatively valuable. This will also bring us into a situation where we do not exhaust our political activism in superficial media interaction that prevents us from effective political action against atrocities, similar to those from the Epstein files.

Here is an overview of things that we can do:

• Research musicians, actors and social media people before consuming their content to see whether they are compromised Be suspicious of “newcomers”, they are often installed
• Be suspicious of oppositional voices Many of the people who criticise those criminals and established structures are “controlled opposition” to invoke the feeling of plurality and choice
• Avoid mainstream news and media from European and Neo-European nations For example: CNN, CNBC, Fox News, BBC, Associated Press, ZDF, ARD, France 24, The Guardian (list not exhaustive)
• Focus on primary sources. Do your own research! Use books, legislative texts and academic papers to form an opinion.
• Counteract your own emotional responses by remembering that these feelings were intended.

It is important, however, not to equate the withdrawal of attention with indifference. Wrongdoings need to be talked about and, more importantly, punished. However, there is a difference between emotionally talking about these things and confidently building a hierarchy of discourse that places those criminals at the bottom of society where they belong. This paves the way for action that embodies that. When we demystify the acts of those people by moving away from focusing on the acts and the people, while simultaneously focusing on punishing them without giving them a platform, we can regain sovereignty over our political systems. Paired with reduced and redirected consumption, the relativity of power will bring those criminals from the Epstein files and beyond into a situation of nothingness. By treating them as nothing, they fall out of the power equation because we, as citizens, withdraw from the relative comparison of power that they are dependent on to pursue their cruelties.

Preparedness For And Awareness Of Next Steps

In terms of international politics, there are some critical venues that draw our attention: Syria, Iran, Yemen, Ukraine, Venezuela, Taiwan, Sudan, Somalia and the Sahel nations. It is important to note that developments in politics can be controlled and influenced to a high degree, but there are limits to political calculation. When events and developments evolve, we can expect them to be planned, but it does not mean that there are no alternative paths for them to unfold. Especially when we as citizens hold on to our duty to be aware and prepared, we transform ourselves from a constant into a variable for those who plan and aim for their despicable goals. Therefore, we need to identify sudden upcoming trends and increased mentions of topics in the media. When identifying that a certain topic, whether promoted by the mainstream or the controlled opposition, is now very prominently discussed, then this is something that requires emotional detachment and rational assessment. By doing so, we can identify the next major development.

Here is an overview of topics that suddenly became very prominent in the media:

• Conspiracy theories Theories that question historical developments, events and even the earth’s shape have massively surfaced lately with the aim to distort reality and proliferate uncertainty.
• The origins of Ashkenazi Jews Only very recently has the origin of this clan of Jews been discussed, tracing their DNA back to Turkic Tatars. Potentially, this is done to link the atrocities of those criminals to Turks in order to build perceived legitimacy for an attack on Türkiye by Israel.

Concluding Thoughts

On a more personal note, the release of the Epstein files is one of the darkest chapters of known human history. It is utterly saddening to know that so many young people have experienced this, and many of the victims are no longer alive. In terms of devletist thought, we are talking about thousands of talents and beautiful stories that could have unfolded and enriched our planet. Instead, they became victims of weak and broken people who never made it past the fourth level in the hierarchy of needs, happiness and language. However, these feelings should not keep us from taking action. Even less should they lead us to apathy and lethargy, as intended by those who released the files. We can and should do something about it. It is the collective normative effort that creates the desired effect: the punishment of those who cross the boundaries of truth and righteousness.