Nancy Pelosi characterizes the Epstein scandal and seeming coverup as "a distraction" from kitchen table issues

[demmiblue]

Nancy Pelosi characterizes the Epstein scandal and seeming coverup as "a distraction" from kitchen table issues

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-07-17T17:42:12.030Z

Yeah, definitely wouldn’t want to exploit the first real fracture between Trump and his base.

— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T18:17:13.743Z

[elleng]

1. Big 'distraction!'

[in2herbs]

2. Evidence she needs to be no longer relevant in politics --- her and all the other old fogies. nt

[Cha]

20. No it Is NOT. Nancy Pelosi Shouldn't be

discarded and "other old figures" just because we don't agree with her.

I happen to think We can Multitask. but Not going to throw Nancy Pelosi Aside.

[sheshe2]

45. The transcript, Cha.

Last edited Fri Jul 18, 2025, 02:02 AM - Edit history (1)

snip/

We have major issues right here with the things we're voting on today in the Congress, again, in terms of the rescission that the president and the Senate have sent back over us to cut all of these resources out of helping poor people throughout the world to be -- America play its leadership role in soft power to keep us safe and to keep us healthy, so that we -- viruses know no boundary.

snip/

PELOSI: No, I think they're both distractions.

I think they're both -- I don't think she's going to Alcatraz -- I think she's planned to do that. But I think that they're both off the subject of what is happening, changing the character and the culture of America by undermining, by placing huge trillions of dollars of national debt on -- for future generations to carry forward, at the expense of the health, nutrition, education of the American people.

And I will just make this further point. Nothing brings more money to the treasury than the education of the American people, whether it's early childhood K-12, higher education, post-grad, lifetime learning for our workers. Nothing brings more money.

And yet they and their friends in the court are undermining public education in our country. So we're talking about judgment. We're talking about no vision, no values. And, again, with some of the things they're doing, it's not the price only. It's the money. It's the money that they're using for frivolous ideas like the Alcatraz idea.

And, again, it's important. It's important to me. It's in my district. But it's not urgent, the way it is urgent for us to cut the -- to get rid of the cuts that they have made in our budget that meet the needs of the American people.

More: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/07/17/pelosi_on_epstein_this_is_a_distraction_we_have_major_issues_right_here.html


She is trying to deal with what is in front of Congress right now! Millions will die unless we can stop this.

Fact is we can walk and chew gum at the same time.

[Cha]

46. Wow.. Nancy is making some Excellent Points.

Last edited Fri Jul 18, 2025, 01:56 AM - Edit history (1)

Before anyone says she should "retire" they should be Aware of the Whole Picture.

And, Yeah, it's not about cutting costs.. It's about Destroying America For Vlad Putin.. Our US Government Got Overtaken by Neo nazis.. Who the Fuck knew...

Hillary, Biden, and Kamala & We Did for Starters.

Mahalo, she.. I Appreciate this so Much!

[sheshe2]

48. That's why I needed to find the transcript, it's easier for me to read than hear.

I think some people just read the headline and did not listen to the full interview.

We can't focus on one thing, we need to know what is happening on all fronts so we can address them. She stresses that in her last paragraph. Gawd knows they are bombarding us with these issues daily! We need to work together as a team.

TY, Cha.

[Cha]

50. I get more out of something like

this when I read it, too... especially this one.. So TY, she!

We Do Need to Work Together.. Why I don't like any dragging On Dems with Divisive tactics like calling them "Establishment".

So what they're Established .. They're Working for our Democracy! That shouldn't be a dirty word'

💙

[sheshe2]

49. Ooops, sorry! I fixed the link.

[Cha]

51. No Worries.. TY!

[MorbidButterflyTat]

68. Exactly.

This OP is disingenuous and the Blue Sky or whatever fake twitter posts are simply shallow excuses to crap on a dedicated and productive Dem.

Sick of that shit.

[GaYellowDawg]

56. At best, it's a serious lapse in judgement.

This isn't merely a distraction. It is an issue that has the potential to split MAGA wide open and allow us to retake Congress in 2026, and there is literally nothing more important than that.

[artemisia1]

65. Yes, there is. The protection of our children and justice for the 1000+ victims of Epstein and those on his client list.

[Hekate]

3. Speaker Emerita is correct. The trump administration is desperately trying to change the subject...

Just name a subject and they are trying to change it. I just hope to God that for once in our lifetime as Democrats we can focus on more than one thing at a time.

The Epstein cover up is important — keep digging. But removing all semblance of a social safety net (what Nancy is talking about) is equally important, if not more so. Children are already going hungry — please, Democrats, don’t let one thing drive out another.

[Arazi]

4. David Hogg watches this and shakes his head...

… along with a boatload of the rest of us.




(Pssst Nancy, Dems can and should do both ffs!)

[Duncan Grant]

5. Keeping the powder dry -- again.

Good grief.

[FarPoint]

6. I happen to agree with Nancy....

Lot of talk about it with no evidence of action to expose...all just chatter....chatter information that has been known for say 8 years... distration is what I called it from the get-go this news cycle in June/July.

[LuvLoogie]

40. It worked against Hillary. It worked against Kerry.

It worked against Joe. It worked against Kamala.

[harumph]

7. In another time, she would be absolutely correct.

But maybe Democrats will now realize we're in a shit flinging match, and honestly nobody gives a shit about policies when our basic rights are being
abridged and we are becoming an autocratic state. Bear in mind I don't like shit flinging - but that's the price of persuasion unfortunately... in this country at least.

[EarlG]

8. I have no problem with this

The MAGAs are cooking nicely all on their own with a select few Democrats (like Ro Khanna) stirring the pot.

IMO, we don't want them to start wondering why they're suddenly standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nancy Pelosi, of all people. My worry is that it will make MAGAs suspicious, and we don't want them to switch their position and start agreeing with Trump that this is some kind of Democratic hoax/set up.

Plus, there are probably a lot of Americans who would rather talk about kitchen table issues than talk about Jeffrey Epstein right now. I don't think it's a bad thing for Nancy Pelosi to stay out of this at the moment. Let the MAGAs abandon Trump without them having to worry that doing so will align them with liberal Democrats that they hate.

[tulipsandroses]

31. I agree with this. As strategy. I do think there is a crack in the base that absolutely should be exploited. It can't be

by people they see as enemies though. They have a lot of contempt for Pelosi - I think its wise to let the younger Dems, especially the ones they may not yet consider " establishment".

Nick Fuentes is telling his supporters not to vote for republicans - Let them cook - as the kids say, but don't stay out of the fray completely.

[madibella]

9. Sigh.

[Johonny]

10. Every kitchen table discussing it, but the elites

Maybe she should visit more working class kitchen tables.

[newdeal2]

11. She doesn't need to talk about it

This is not material for her or Chuck. They are no good with it and should stay away.

This is a job for the younger folks who know how to use it effectively.

[fujiyamasan]

12. What's with this bipartisanship when it comes to lack of transparency?

I used to value Pelosi’s political judgment but maybe age is catching up to her.

If this is her attitude toward this, I don’t see her and The old guard actually taking advantage of anything. I hope Jeffries is not taking Pelosi’s advice here.

People want answers over Epstein. I’m glad some democrats are pushing to get the files released (if Barr didn’t destroy them years ago).

[Ritabert]

13. About time for her to retire

[Cha]

21. No it is NOT. nt

[Ritabert]

22. We need some younger people in there and I'm old

[Cha]

41. Of course we do.. but that doesn't mean

Nancy has to "retire".

[kacekwl]

14. If I hear someone

say kitchen table issues again I'm going to scream. It's not 1970 anymore.

[Skittles]

24. THANK YOU

more proof of being out of touch

[leftstreet]

26. +1

[regnaD kciN]

33. Plus, statistically...

…it has been demonstrated conclusively that Democrats have been vastly superior on “kitchen-table issues” since, I don’t know, the 1930s? Certainly since the 1990s. And it hasn’t kept us from losing four of the last seven presidential elections, not the least because anything we may point out gets overwhelmed by a torrent of “iNfLaTiOn Is OuT oF cOnTrOl!!!” rhetoric from Faux and the other purveyors of right-wing propaganda non-stop any time a Democrat is in power.

[fujiyamasan]

43. That phrase make me cringe too

Do politicians (especially someone of Pelosi’s wealth) picture us ordinary people as sitting around a kitchen table balancing a checkbook? I mean I don’t really get it.

If Dem politicians are in the process of reflection after the last election, maybe they can consider dropping phrases like “kitchen table economics”.

[Mike 03]

15. I agree with Kevin Kruse. This falls into the same category as "TACO", where some of us

ridiculed and attacked Trump because he backed away from implementing policies we despised in the first place.

[NewHendoLib]

16. Like Schumer, past the freshness date.

[hunter]

17. I think she's correct.

I expect a faked "Epstein List" will be released which will reignite this firestorm and distract us from everything that is worse.

Remember what happened to Dan Rather and Sixty Minutes with regards to Bush's National Guard Service?

This will be an extreme version of that.

We already know Trump is a disgusting rapist. The "Barely Legal" crowd loves him for that, and they love the idea of a fascist white "America" too. That's the life-or-death situation we have to face head on.

[Keepthesoulalive]

30. We are not involved

This is their fight and I am grabbing the popcorn. I would advise madam Pelosi to do the same. We might egg them on from the sidelines a little but this is their reckoning that their god king is full of it and he used them. So step aside lady.

[hunter]

36. It's well past the time for popcorn.

Nazis are knocking down the doors.

[Keepthesoulalive]

44. The drama with Trump and MAGA

We cannot influence, but we can watch them get a clue. They knew what he was and they celebrated that malevolence. Now he is refusing to pay the debt as he always does and they are pissed. What he and his minions have done to this country may never be fixed , all I can do is watch and take satisfaction in the finding out phase. He cannot control the monster he created. The only thing we can do to help our country is vote.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Another one for the "this is why we lose" file

[ecstatic]

19. I really respect her contributions but that answer makes it clear

that it's time to retire.

She's right: We do have a LOT of issues to deal with, but the coverup of a pedophile list is NOT a distraction, especially if the predators are still on the street.

If we ever want to come back from the wilderness, we can't have out of touch folks or folks who can't walk and chew gum at the same time speaking for us.

[Skittles]

25. LONG PAST TIME

yup

[fujiyamasan]

47. Yeah I'm pissed about the use of the word "distraction" here

Rather than simply saying something to the effect of, “Americans deserve to know the truth”, she says it’s a distraction that people are finally talking about Epstein and his relationship with Trump?

I’d say it’s a pretty big fucking deal when you have three administrations now (and yes I include Biden here in between the two Trump terms) not being very transparent who this “financier” pedophile is. Why was he hanging out with celebs, prominent members of academia, businesspeople, and politicians, and what were his possible connections to foreign intel services?

I really hope Pelosi doesn’t run again. If she doesnt understand why this story resonates with people, it’s time for the old guard to go.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. I don't agree with her on this one.

Epstein issue can bring Trump down. Dems should go balls to the wall and keep it alive.

But, might I say that it's so typical of Pelosi. Walking away from the fight, is not the way to go...this time.

[Aviation Pro]

27. Please elaborate on those kitchen table issues

Because I bet what she thinks is not reality around most kitchens.

[leftstreet]

28. So what's she throwing on the table?

Medicare For All?

$25 hr min wage?

4 day workweek?

Yeah, I thought so...

[Henry203]

29. If it wasn't important to Trump

Then we would have not seen his reaction. If you change it to kitchen table issues you are changing the subject which Trump wants to do. When he is down keep kicking him where it hurts.

[B.See]

32. a distraction perhaps, for those

easily distracted.

[rickyhall]

34. Just kick back and watch. If it breaks MAGA what could go wrong?

[johnnyfins]

35. Minimizing the Epstein case as a distraction

is minimizing all of the victims who had their lives destroyed. Sorry Speaker Emerita, but you're wrong.

[flvegan]

37. Here's a thought: discuss both. I know, what?

And I'm sorry, if top level dems DON'T discuss it or if they treat it like a distraction, it almost makes it sound like having a pedophile for a president isn't worthy of discussion. "Dems don't care about pedophiles raping your young teen daughters! Next on Hannity."

[jalan48]

38. Is she still in the House? I thought she said she was retiring several years ago.

[JustAnotherGen]

39. She's wrong on this

Love her - but we can focus on multiple things at the same time.

[Traildogbob]

42. Can we change the term!

Kitchen table issues just sounds ancient. Lots of young voters don’t even have a kitchen table and single people do not sit there and think about issues.
Maybe it’s just me. Never ever sit at my kitchen table. But, I guess it does have a purpose, just laying my “Paid last month pile and my to be paid this month pile” on the table. So, they are issues. Never mind.

[Arazi]

61. More like sitting on the sofa with a laptop and/or phone

Working up a spreadsheet if you’re trained for that. Or looking up what you charged on credit cards last month or e-paid.

Nobody’s piling receipts and cash into envelopes, stashed in a shoebox.

Just ollllddddd….

[Traildogbob]

66. I Hear you!

Especially a single old guy. I eat in the living room area in my big chair All one big area. 800 sq ft cottage. All ya can afford as a career Faculty in NC, retired.
But it’s all mine.

[Arazi]

67. Sounds comfy and perfectly perfect ❤️

But yah, even as a retired guy the “kitchen table” trope doesn’t work.

[JI7]

52. Why can't more than one thing be happening ?

Not everything that might take attention away from something is a distraction.

We can talk about health care, the immigration raids and Trump and Epstein and many more things.

I would say the Grreenland stuff was a distraction. But Epstein stuff is a serious matter. Trump has already been found guilty of rape. He has publicly bragged about assaulting women.

[usonian]

53. Here's a distraction. "Her Emails". Ingore it and it will go away.

It didn't.

Comey et. al. need to undo 4 1/2 years of hell and hitler.

Some distractions blow up real good.

Bernie and AOC are all over the country pounding on real world issues. I want running backs, tight ends and receivers moving the ball forward.

They're in motion. And some are stirring the pot.

Action. That's what it's all about.

[Blue Full Moon]

54. Doing what Trump wants? Who is she protecting?

[Skittles]

55. it does seem odd

very much so

[Auggie]

57. Could have / should have phrased her response better

[msfiddlestix]

58. Reminds me when Dumbya invaded Iraq and then torture videos, NP said we need to Move Forward

Those of us outraged over all of it, were and still are regarded as "the RADICAL LEFT"

Right.

[LAS14]

59. That's what I think!!! Entertaining, yes, like a soap opera. BUT!!!!!! nt

[uponit7771]

60. Same, it doesn't hit the pockets or civil / voting rights It's deprioritized in my book

[Deminpenn]

62. Right now, Americans are absorbed by the Epstein files drama

It's a world class conspiracy theory and has the added benefit of setting MAGAts against each other. Sit back and enjoy.

There's plenty of time to talk about kitchen table issues. In fact, Dems won't even have to talk about them because by the time Nov 2026 rolls around, everyone will be feeling the impact on their wallets of what Trump and his sheep in congress did. And they'll know who did it. And they won't believe what Trump tells them because he "betrayed" them by not releasing the Epstein files.

[Skittles]

64. it's not a fucking GAME, it's not a fucking STRATEGY

the real issue is YOUNG GIRLS WERE TRAFFICKED FOR SEX by RICH PERVERTS

WHY the fuck are SO many people willing to overlook this?

[MorbidButterflyTat]

69. Disingenuous

ageist, shallow attempt to divide Democrats again.