Donald Trump delivered a “speech” to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. It would be an insult to the Constitution to call the speech the “State of the Union” address. It was more of a “pep rally” featuring the woefully misguided Men’s Hockey Team combined with the congressional equivalent of a high school awards assembly, including staged vignettes featuring couples struggling with infertility, patients fighting cancer, first responders who saved lives, and veterans being awarded medals of honor. Their suffering and heroism are real. Trump’s use of them as political props was a cynical ploy to distract from his failing presidency.
But the biggest news of the day broke before Trump spoke his first lie in the speech. Of course, Trump did not say a word about the shocking accusations that the DOJ is withholding interviews of a victim who accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was thirteen years old.
Per NPR, the Department of Justice is withholding documents that contain accusations that “President Trump sexually abused a minor.” See NPR, DOJ removed, withheld Epstein files related to accusations about Trump.
In normal times, the mere allegation that the president and the Attorney General were conspiring to conceal documents accusing the president of sexually abusing a minor would result in the immediate removal of the president and the Attorney General, as well as every member of the DOJ who participated in the effort.
It does not matter whether the accusations in the concealed documents are true. The point of the Epstein Files Transparency Act was to release the files so that the American public could determine whether law enforcement agencies had appropriately investigated, indicted, and prosecuted men and women who abused minors and adults.
By concealing the documents, Pam Bondi and Donald Trump have denied the American people the very information that the Act was designed to disclose.
Per NPR, it discovered that there are “gaps” in documents produced by the DOJ:
NPR reviewed multiple sets of unique serial numbers appearing before and after the pages in question, stamped onto documents in the Epstein files database, FBI case records, emails and discovery document logs in the latest tranche of documents published at the end of January. NPR’s investigation found dozens of pages that appear to be catalogued by the Justice Department but not shared publicly.
The administration initially declined to comment on NPR’s review but subsequently pushed back against NPR’s characterization of its “no comment.” The administration said that the documents were withheld because they are “privileged, are duplicates, or relate to an ongoing federal investigation.”
The DOJ’s justification for withholding documents does not conform to the law or make sense.
Documents cannot be withheld because they are duplicates. Indeed, in the DOJ letter to Congress explaining why documents were withheld and redacted, the DOJ did not cite “duplicates” as a reason for withholding documents. See Letter re Compliance with Act - Jan 26 - 508.pdf.
Nor is privilege a valid basis for withholding interviews of a victim by the FBI (see below for details). By definition, such factual interviews by government investigators are outside the scope of the attorney-client privilege.
NPR’s review disclosed that interviews with a 13-year-old victim who alleges that she was sexually abused by Trump are missing:
Per NPR, the “FBI interviewed this . . . accuser four times” but “only the first interview . . . is in the database. That interview does not mention Trump.”
Thus, NPR’s review suggests that the DOJ has withheld three interviews with a Trump accuser. Notes of interviews are not privileged.
That leaves the question of whether notes accusing Trump of sexual abuse are “relevant to an ongoing investigation.” Administration officials initially denied that Trump—or anyone—was under active investigation in connection with the allegations against Epstein. Indeed, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel released a memo in July 2025 declaring that the Epstein files provided no basis for prosecuting anyone.
Kash Patel testified to Congress that “there was no credible evidence, none” that Epstein trafficked girls and women to others and said that he would open an investigation immediately if such evidence existed. See Axios, Kash Patel says “no credible information” Epstein trafficked to anyone but himself (9/16/25).
But, after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Pam Bondi changed her tune, testifying in February that “We have pending investigations in our office”—thereby arguably creating a basis for withholding some documents. She refused to provide any details about an alleged investigation.
If the DOJ is withholding evidence of accusations against Trump because of an “ongoing investigation,” the DOJ is obligated to disclose that fact to Congress, per the Epstein Files Transparency Act. But even if there is an ongoing investigation, documents can be withheld only if they would
jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.
The DOJ’s wrongful withholding of documents detailing an accusation against Donald Trump must be the top story until those documents are released. And until they are, we should assume the worst—both about the allegations and the DOJ’s motivations in withholding the documents.
Trump’s speech
Trump’s speech was filled with lies, from his first words to the last. If you didn’t watch, you didn’t miss anything. To the extent that his speech had a theme, it was that Americans are complaining about Trump “winning too much.” That is a phrase no one has ever uttered
Here is what he did not speak about:
· The Epstein victims and their ongoing effort to obtain justice and transparency.
· ICE killings in Minneapolis and ICE violence against protesters.
· A pathway to end the DHS shutdown.
· Russia’s war on Ukraine.
· The rationale for starting a war against Iran.
The speech was the longest “State of the Union” speech in history. The length of the speech and the exploitation of Americans’ suffering, heroism, and accomplishments were distractions from Trump’s collapsing presidency.
The speech was filled with lies. See, e.g., CNN Politics, Fact-checking Trump’s State of the Union address. The major categories of lies include the following (per CNN Politics):
Trump falsely claims the US has secured ‘$18 trillion’ in investments
Misleading claims on gasoline prices
False claim that he inherited record inflation
False claim that he passed the largest tax cuts in American history
False claim that Biden allowed ‘11,888 murderers’ to enter the US as migrants
False claim that foreign countries are paying his illegal tariffs
Unproven claim of fraud in Minnesota
False claims regarding election fraud
False claim about the employment levels
False claim about ending eight years
False claim of ending taxes on Social Security
False claim of achieving a balanced budget
False claim about “too much winning.”
Update: The NY Times published a comprehensive fact-check later in the evening. See NYTimes, Fact-Checking Trump’s State of the Union Speech. (Accessible to all.)
The Wall Street Journal gave Trump’s speech a generally skeptical reception: Trump Hails an Economic Turnaround Many Voters Don’t See (Accessible to all.)
Trump doubled down on tariffs, suggesting that tariffs would replace the income tax. See PBS, Trump says tariffs could replace income tax. That won’t happen, but if it did, a tariff-based system would be a massive regressive tax that would disproportionately burden taxpayers on the bottom of the income scale.
Trump’s speech was ugly in its divisiveness. He attacked Democrats repeatedly, saying that they are “crazy” and are “destroying the country.” As noted by Lawrence O’Donnell in MSNow’s post-speech review, no president has ever attacked Americans who do not agree with their policies. Every president before Trump has used the State of the Union address to call for unity among the American people.
Trump’s speech exhibited a ghoulish preoccupation with violence and gore. See Alternet, Viewers disturbed by Trump’s ‘joyous look’ describing graphic violence and murder.
The Men’s Hockey Team disgraced itself and betrayed fellow athletes. The men of the US Olympic Hockey Team were paraded onto the House floor for ten minutes early in the speech. They allowed themselves to be exploited by a hateful president who insulted at least 50% of Americans by saying that “Democrats are destroying our country.” They shared their Olympic glory with a man who slandered the Somali community in Minnesota. They served as a prop for a man who studiously ignored Epstein’s victims sitting in the chamber. They applauded a man who attempted a coup and incited an insurrection.
There is no excuse for the men’s hockey team’s behavior. It doesn’t matter that they are young, that they are athletes, or that they wanted to celebrate their victory. Someone on that team was their leader. Their coaches were leaders. They failed in the first moral test of their post-Olympic lives. And in failing that test, they betrayed and belittled the US Women’s Hockey Team, whose Olympic dominance exceeded that achieved by the men’s team.
The Democratic Response by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger gave a well-received speech in rebuttal to Trump. The video is here: Full speech: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives Democratic counter to Trump’s State of the Union - CBS News
Governor Spanberger’s 12-minute speech was cogent and to the point, addressing issues affecting American families. Spanberger said,
“Let me ask you, the American people watching at home, three questions,” Spanberger said. “Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the president working to keep Americans safe both at home and abroad? Is the president working for you?”
It was refreshing to watch and listen to a normal person give a speech with a logical flow and based on facts.
Opportunities for Reader Engagement
31st Street Swing Left
Please join 31st St. Swing Left and Senate Circle on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific / 7:00 p.m Eastern for a Zoom fundraiser to hold MAGA Senator Pete Ricketts accountable to Nebraskans. We will hear from political strategist Adelle Burk, who will explain how your support ensures swing voters know how Ricketts actions on tariffs, healthcare, and medical marijuana are harming them. Your donations will receive a generous 1:1 match, meaning the $125,000 goal will double to $250,000.
31st St. Swing Left is an all-volunteer grassroots organization dedicated to electing Democrats and preserving our democracy. Senate Circle is also an all-volunteer organization and focused on flipping the Senate through wins in Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska.
When: March 4 at 7:00 pm Eastern/ 4:00 pm Pacific on Zoom
Where: No need to donate to attend the Zoom. RSVP for the Zoom or donate to the Nebraska Donor Alliance: Hold MAGA Senator Pete Ricketts Accountable.
Donuts + Democracy
Join Senator Chris Murphy and Donuts + Democracy on Tuesday, March 3 at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET for a virtual house party on “Power Mapping 2026.”
We will hear from Senator Murphy, Donuts + Democracy, and their student organizers on why the path to a 2026 Blue Wave runs through college campuses and how they are mobilizing young voters – the most powerful but underinvested voting bloc.
Donuts + Democracy was founded in 2024 by a mother-daughter duo and partners with a nationwide network of youth organizers to break down barriers to voting and turn young people into life-long voters - one donut, one conversation at a time. You can support their work by donating here or signing up for their newsletter here.
Sign up to RSVP here.
Concluding Thoughts
The DOJ’s cover-up of the interviews of the 13-year-old who accused Trump of sexually abusing her should be a scandal of presidency-ending dimensions. It will be up to us to keep this story at the forefront of the news.
Tuesday’s speech was Trump’s big chance to change the narrative of his presidency before the 2026 midterms. Instead, he doubled-down on unpopular policies and ignored issues that are creating anxiety for Americans.
Trump had one job—and he failed, to no one’s surprise. He will keep repeating his mistakes for the rest of his presidency. We know our mission heading into the midterms. We need to press our advantage on the issues and keep Trump on the defensive. The good news is that we are already executing on that strategy. We just need more people to join us.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Pro-democracy protest photos
[Send photos to rbhubbell@gmail.com. Please indicate city and state. No photos of minors, please.]
Hinesburg, VT, February 24, 2026
The weekly Tuesday morning Chandler/Gilbert Indivisible Visibility Bridge Brigade
Portland, OR. 16th & Multnomah
Photos from “red” Naples Florida protest
Bangor, ME. 13 months and counting at the Federal Building
Indivisible West CoCo County in West County; part of Contra Costa County in California.
Cumberland Valley Rising hosts Freedom Fridays in Carlisle, PA.
The weekly Warning Signs of Fascism group at Peace Arch Park on the Washington border with Canada. From Indivisible Bellingham, WA.
Pasadena, CA
Earl, WI
BEND, Oregon
Indivisible sponsored weekly protest in Tillamook, Oregon.
Cadillac MI, 80 Patriots for Democrac
Nashoba Indivisible supports the towns of Bolton, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Sterling & Stow, Massachusetts.
Moretown VT
Here’s the quilt block I created and am sending from Palm Coast, FL, to the CA group putting together the Quilt for Democracy.
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