In partnership with
It’s Monday!
A warm welcome to the 38 new subscribers who joined over the weekend.
Hello, Curse and Coffee friends,
Today, we explore the Epstein photo bombshell.
Hit reply and let us know what you think (we read all of your kind words).
Coffee at the ready…
The Big Sip
The take: The Epstein files became a case study in selective transparency.
What happened: The Justice Department released thousands of Epstein files on Friday — featuring Clinton prominently — then removed 16 files containing Trump photos by Saturday, before restoring them Sunday after backlash.
Why it matters: Neither Clinton nor Trump has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims. But both parties are using a dead sex trafficker's photo album to score points while 550 pages of redactions bury the details that actually matter.
What to watch: Whether Congress holds anyone accountable for violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed 427–1 and carries no penalty for noncompliance.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427–1. The DOJ responded with 550 pages of black ink. Democracy in action.
Sponsor Break
Before we slurp into today’s brew…
Here are some wordies from today’s sponsor.
Attention is scarce. Learn how to earn it.
Every leader faces the same challenge: getting people to actually absorb what you're saying - in a world of overflowing inboxes, half-read Slacks, and meetings about meetings.
Smart Brevity is the methodology Axios HQ built to solve this. It's a system for communicating with clarity, respect, and precision — whether you're writing to your board, your team, or your entire organization.
Join our free 60-minute Open House to learn how it works and see it in action.
Runs monthly - grab a spot that works for you.