Published on Portside (https://portside.org/)

Tidbits-Feb 19- Reader Comments: Next Distraction: Epstein Files…Bomb Iran; “Voter Fraud” – Most Dangerous Political Lie; Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey Epstein. Why, Noam?; Americans Pay for Almost All of Trump’s Tariffs; the Next No Kings Is March 28

https://portside.org/2026-02-19/tidbits-feb-19-reader-comments-next-distraction-epstein-filesbomb-iran-voter-fraud-most
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Dr. James MacLeod
February 6, 2026
Dr. James MacLeod
 




 

Re: Is “Voter Fraud” the Most Dangerous Political Lie in American History?
 

Most dangerous lie? My response is that more than one thing can be true. The election fraud lie is dangerous and the article’s points are well taken, but the *most* dangerous lie is that immigrants are responsible for all our social woes and should be eliminated. That is the *Big Lie* that is the precise analogue of Hitler’s Big Lie scapegoating the Jews. At one point, Hartman has Trump’s Big Lie about immigrants as a corollary of the voter fraud Big Lie, but I contend that it is in fact the central plank in Trump’s program for Nazifying the U.S.

Clifford Conner




 

Redactions  --  Cartoon by Clay Bennett

 



Clay Bennett
February 17, 2026
Chattanooga Times Free Press
 




 

Re: Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey Epstein. Why, Noam?


Besides the points Danny Spector wrote about in his "Why, Noam?" essay about Chomsky's misogynistic support of Jeffrey Epstein, leftists should not forget Chomsky's support for the genocidal Pol Pot regime in Cambodia (also backed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) and Chomsky's vehement support for Robert Faurisson, the Holocaust denier in France. He never offered even a half-hearted apology for those episodes. Chomsky was right about many things, but he was not a secular saint.

Ken Lawrence
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania

     =====

As further explanation of Epstein's power which may partially explain the Chomsky's involvement, read Ezra Klein's interview in the New York Times this past week with Anand Giridharadas. A really interesting discussion of the power Epstein had over the powerful.

Marilyn Albert
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

     =====

I was so disappointed in Chomsky's affiliation with Epstein. Chomsky has a mind like a steel trap and has served the causes of peace and anti-imperialism with integrity for many years. One of the pitfalls of doing so much good work and getting so many accolades may be to become dismissive to women and to others whose lives teach them things that are not found in a book. But being super pure is not easy. After Primo Levi committed suicide (a real one, not like Epstein), I wondered what should we have been doing to support him more, to let him know how important he was to us. So now I suggest we all send cards and thank you messages to our lonely champions especially Norm Finkelstein, and others like Stacey Abrams, James Donziger and Leticia James. Or the ones you admire.

Sonia Cobbins
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

     =====

It's not a left/right thing. It's a depraved, protected money and influence elite thing. I don't believe anyone who had multiple dealings with Epstein who says that they had no idea what he was and what he was doing. It wasn't just one period of scandal. It was multiple scandals over many, many years. I don't care if they were right, left, Democrat, Republican or Indie. If they spent time hanging out with him, they knew. If they heard the years' worth of widespread gossip, they knew. Some were active participants. For others it was simply inconvenient for them to know and their convenience came first. Simple as that. They can all climb down off their high horses. They have no claim to moral superiority.

Felice Sage
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

     =====

Felice Sage:  Norman Finkelstein deserves his high horse. He refused to consort with such people. It is in the Epstein files. For that kind of integrity he is excluded from the arrogant secretive greedy sociopathic pleasure loving circles and is the target of all kinds of denigration.

Sonia Cobbins
Posted on Portside's Facebook page

     =====

I very much appreciated Danny Spector's comments on Chomsky and Epstein, but I think there are two points that could be made even stronger:

1. A form of misogyny has always been a part of the left. Women's voices have long been dismissed as not valid, not relevant or perhaps as undermining the greater struggle for peace and justice and against racism and colonialism. I think Chomsky's response to Epstein was part of this historic trend.

2. Epstein had a global reach, beyond his sexual criminality. His rolodex contained the contacts for top political, economic, technical, entertainment, media people. If you wanted to fundraise for a pet project, he was the man to put you in touch with those who could fund and promote it.

The NYT today had an article about two Columbia Dental School faculty who were dismissed after it came to light that they had helped Epstein's girlfriend's admission in exchange for money for the dental school. I am not shocked by this and I think Columbia is hypocritically throwing them under the bus. Their job was to raise money for the dental school. (The article does not imply any personal gain.) What they did is no different from what universities all over this country are doing when they admit legacy students or go hat in hand to large donors. It is the way our system works. I am not defending the system, but why single out these two?

Judith Schaffner

     =====

"A former Deutsche Bank compliance officer told the FBI she was fired in 2018 after flagging suspicious activity in accounts linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Jared Kushner, offering yet another example of how they operated above the law: "

    The Epstein Whistleblower Who Was Silenced
    By Veronica RiccobeneFreddy Brewster
    February 17, 2026
    Jacobin
   

Fred Niles

     =====

Note that Norman Finklestein didn't get sucked into this and made it clear in no uncertain terms what he thought of Epstein.

Gary Bono
Posted on Portside's Facebook page




 

Re: Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Activist and Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84


I have been reading Portside since in began and appreciate the information and your effort.  However, the articles, over the years have tended more and more towards the reformist and progressive democratic and less towards the socialist/communist stance at the beginning.

The article on Jesse Jackson included a part referring to Fidel Castro as a dictator and lumping him with some unsavory names.  Choosing articles like this is a disservice to progressivism and socialism.  There must be other obituaries that do not include this ugly anticommunist rhetoric.

Peter Berkowitz




 

Bannon and Epstein  --  Cartoon and Commentary by Nick Anderson

 


Newly released Justice Department files reveal that Steve Bannon maintained a close and supportive relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the months before Epstein’s 2019 arrest, advising him on media strategy, legal representation, and reputation management.

Nick Anderson
February 18, 2026
Pen Strokes
 




 

Re: Which Bad Bunny Halftime Show Did You See?
 

How curious no one finds the presence of more than a thousand protestors outside the show protesting the ICE agents there and elsewhere and killing our neighbors yo be worth a mention.  
Were you out there?

Cathy Deppe




 

Re: You Know What? Maybe the Time Is Right for an AOC Presidential Bid
 

AOC should first take Schumer's place.  She has plenty of time to become president.  Senator Chris Murphy is the best progressive choice for president in '28.

Nora Lapin

     =====

No for President. Senate sure.

Elizabeth Kelly
Posted on Portside's Facebook page




 

Re: Americans Pay for Almost All of Trump’s Tariffs
 

Were you wondering about who is paying for the Trump tariff tantrums? You and I are. Almost all of the cost of the erratic threatening crazy quilt, revenge-motivated import fees levied as they are along with faux claims of emergency have resulted in us paying through the nose as importers raise prices. Thanks to Portside for this Reuters report on this study by the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.

Daniel Millstone
Post on Facebook




 

Re: Kaiser Strike Hits Fourth Week As 31,000 Workers Demand Higher Pay and Better Staffing

(posting on Portside Labor)
 

Kaiser Permanente end this strike. Treat your patients and staff with dignity and respect

Rac Alb La
Posted on Portside's Facebook page




 

Re: Trump Is Using Mexico’s Oil To Put the Squeeze on Cuba
 

If this were another country blocking oil for basic infrastructure needs they would call it an act of war.

Robert Laite
Posted on Portside's Facebook page
 





 

Torch Carrying Domestic Terrorist  --  Cartoon by Mike Luckovich

 



Mike Luckovich
January 8, 2026
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 




 

Re: Deadlier Than Gettysburg
 

The author knows of what she speaks. I highly recommend her This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War, reviewed here.  I wonder: was the US Civil War was the first use of train box cars for forced transports of human beings against their will? Box cars were used after the Civil War for forced relocation of Native Americans. In the Congo, Belgium used trains to move the thousands of workers who died in the construction of the railroads themselves (see King Leopold's Ghost). Later, boxcars were used, with German technical assistance, in the Turkish genocide of Armenians (see The Burning Tigris). And they were used by Stalin's system of Gulags. All this prior to the Holocaust.

Michael  A. Dover, Cleveland




 

Someone Should Tell Pam Bondi....  --  Meme

 


 



 

He’s So Vain, He Probably Thinks This Toon Is About Him  --  Cartoon by Lalo Alcaraz

 



Lalo Alcaraz
February 17, 2026
https://www.pocho.com/
 




 

A Virtual Conversation - Socialism: Why Then? Why Now? - February 25  (The Labor and Working-Class History Association)
 


 

Could socialism be finding a renewed moment in the pressing political climate of the 2020s? In 2021, India Walton nearly became the first socialist mayor of a major city, Buffalo, NY. In 2025, Seattle elected Katie Wilson, a self-described democratic socialist and New York city’s Zohran Mamdani's routine midterm election became a galvanizing moment in the city. Now, in 2026, Washingtonian Janeese Lewis George, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and city council member representing the 4th Ward, is running for mayor of D.C. It seems that socialism is making a resurgence across urban America. Why? And, on what traditions are modern socialists building? During this interactive panel discussion, historians and activists will share their perspectives about the current political landscape for us to collectively understand, historicize, and grapple with the meaning of socialism locally, nationally, and globally.

A virtual conversation with Jonel Edwards Mickles (Dream Defenders) and historians Janine Giordano Drake (Indiana) and Erik McDuffie (Illinois) with moderation by Shelton Stromquist (Iowa).

Register via this link
 



 

The Next No Kings on March 28!

 


No Kings Activists,

ICYMI – we’re coming together for the next No Kings on March 28 and the map is now LIVE! There are already over 1000 events on the map. You can RSVP to attend a No Kings event near you right now. 

Our families and communities are currently under attack. The Trump administration is using intimidation and force to fulfill its corrupt agendas. Sending masked violent agents into neighborhoods to terrorize everyday people and their children is not a form of governance. All the while, nothing substantial is being done to combat rising costs of groceries, housing, and healthcare. That is why we are coming together for No Kings on March 28. We know we can overcome this oppression when we unite.

We need as many people as possible to join us on March 28th, so find an event near you now! If you cannot find an event near you, HOST your own No Kings event in your community! Please use this link to start that process. After you submit your event, our team will be in touch to support you with resources and trainings to make sure that you have all the preparation you need to host your own No Kings event! 



We’re uniting in morally grounded, nonviolent, and lawful action, in cities and towns across the country, to demonstrate that in America, power flows from the collective action of the people, not from authoritarian rule. 

Every time the Trump administration escalates its violent attacks on everyday people and tries to take our freedoms, the No Kings movement grows stronger. History is clear, people-led movements are how we end attacks on our rights. March 28th will show that we the people will not back down.

No Thrones.

No Crowns.

No Kings. 

 

In solidarity, 

The No Kings Team 


You're receiving this from Indivisible, a national partner for No Kings. A core principle behind No Kings is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values, and to act lawfully at these events.

Indivisible Project is a locally-led, people-powered movement of thousands of local groups in red, blue, and purple states, and in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Our mission is to power and lift up a grassroots movement of local groups to defeat the Trump agenda, elect progressive leaders, and realize bold progressive policies.

Indivisible Project 
PO Box 43884
Washington, DC 20010




 

35 Years of the Rosenberg Fund for Children: Stronger Together, Solidarity Forever - Northampton, Mass - April 11
 


Featuring: Angela Y. Davis, Martín Espada, Pamela Means and RFC staff & Board

On April 11, 2026 the Rosenberg Fund for Children will mark 35 years of standing with the kids of targeted activists with a celebratory event in Northampton, Mass. We are thrilled to announce that our program will feature activist and professor emerita Angela Y. Davis, who will share her thoughts on past and present resistance movements and their relevance for the current moment. Later, in conversation with RFC Granting Coordinator Cleo Rohn, Professor Davis will discuss important issues raised by youth activists and activist parents whose kids are supported by the RFC's grants.

BUY TICKETS 


When: Saturday, April 11th from 3 to 5 pm

Where: First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton, MA (Please note: This event is in-person only.)

Tickets: Regular admission tickets are $35. Anniversary Circle (Sponsor) tickets are $135 and include a post-event reception. A limited number of community share tickets are available for $0-15. Please contact info@rfc.org to request a community share ticket.

Payment: We accept credit card or check by mail (pay later option) for online orders. Please note that ticket purchases are non-refundable.

Our program, 35 Years of the RFC: Stronger Together, Solidarity Forever, will also include a poetry reading by National Book Award winner Martín Espada, a musical performance from award winning singer-songwriter Pamela Means, and remarks from RFC Founder Robert Meeropol and Executive Director Jennifer Meeropol, who will celebrate the RFC's 35-year history and share our gratitude with our supporters for making this work possible.

The RFC marks our milestone anniversary during a period of increasing fascism and oppression in the U.S. The National Guard occupies cities; masked ICE and Border Patrol agents kidnap, attack and illegally detain, deport and kill people, often targeting people of color regardless of their immigration status; government officials suppress free speech, leaving millions vulnerable to retaliation; and the current administration wreaks havoc abroad, deposing Venezuela’s head of state, while financing a genocide in Gaza and threatening to seize Greenland.

Every year, children living in the U.S. endure unimaginable hardship because of the serious repression their parents face for their commitment to progressive activism – whether preserving immigrants' rights, safeguarding the environment, advocating for racial and economic justice, protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities, or protesting genocide and other political violence. The activists in the RFC community and their families who were already vulnerable, have been especially hard hit by recent interruptions to SNAP benefits, faced loss of work and income or even been forced into hiding due to government surveillance and repression. But we take heart that the movement to fight fascism is growing and that activists and their families are standing firm regardless to resist oppression and deadly occupation.

While the state of the world leaves us angry, bewildered and in search of justice, it is as important as ever to come together in community. On this 35th anniversary, we will stand firm in our resistance to oppression and renew our commitment to supporting grassroots movement organizers, activists and all who fight for justice in our communities. We hope you will join us for an inspiring, engaging and uplifting program on April 11th.


BUY TICKETS 

Rosenberg Fund for Children 
116 Pleasant St., Suite 335
Easthampton, MA  01027
info@rfc.org
tel: (413) 529-0063
 

Source URL: https://portside.org/2026-02-19/tidbits-feb-19-reader-comments-next-distraction-epstein-filesbomb-iran-voter-fraud-most