Fourth & Democracy | Republicans Target Veterans, Epstein Updates & Portland Under Attack

Welcome to another Fourth & Democracy.

Pete Hegseth is calling the brass to heel as the president wages war on another American city. Republicans just pushed legislation through the House that could completely change how veterans’ disability claims are decided and managed. Trump is maneuvering to block the release of the Epstein files, even as Congress could vote on the issue this week. There’s a lot going on – and the walls keep closing in.

But politics isn’t everything. We’ve got new recommendations for what to watch, the big games hitting your screens this weekend, and whether the next wave of blockbuster shooters – Battlefield and Call of Duty – are really worth your cash in a strapped economy.

So let’s get into it.

1st & 10: Veterans under Attack

There’s a new bill in Congress, H.R. 3854, that looks like a technical update to how the VA handles claims. But underneath the bland veneer of “modernization,” it poses risks that veterans should watch like hawks. Among the requirements: annual reporting of veteran mortality causes and a “plan” for claims processing. On the surface, data transparency is fine. But bills like this often pave the way for bureaucratic leverage – delaying benefits, adding new hoops, and scaling back what was once guaranteed.

When you dig deeper into the text of the bill, it’s clear where this is headed. The bill mandates that the VA roll out automation tools that can automatically retrieve records, compile evidence, generate correspondence, and even provide “decision support” for claims. That means algorithms, not human decision making, will start flagging cases, scanning for keywords in claims, and pushing outcomes. If the correct phrase doesn’t appear in your file, or if an algorithm misinterprets your medical records, your benefits could be delayed or downgraded without a human laying eyes on them.

The danger isn’t just the technology – it’s who controls it. Tech oligarchs with access to the federal government and their companies like Palantir have already embedded themselves deep inside federal data systems. We’ve seen what happens when experimental AI is unleashed on “waste, fraud, and abuse,” – misflagging and cutting essential services and inflating values with zero professional oversight. Imagine that same logic applied to disability claims. Once Palantir or another vendor takes over–appeals become harder, accountability becomes murky, and the promise to veterans gets outsourced to software.

So while this bill is being pitched as modernization, the reality is risk. Risk that benefits will be throttled by keyword scans, risk that delays will be baked into automated workflows, risk that trust in the system erodes even further when there are tax-breaks for billionaires to pay for. Veterans were promised care and compensation, not a computer coin toss.

For now, H.R. 3854 sits in the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, with no vote scheduled. That means there’s still time to push back before it moves. If it advances the debate won’t just be about efficiency or modernization, it will be about whether the government keeps its word to veterans or hands their future over to an algorithm run by billionaires.

2nd & Long: Playing Not to Lose

The U.S. just sanctioned a North Korea-Myanmar arms network, accusing it of supplying bombs, guidance systems, and other equipment that have been used by Myanmar’s junta against civilians. Officially, the move is framed as blocking revenue for North Korea’s weapons programs and cutting off supplies to Myanmar’s military. But underneath, it speaks to a bigger anxiety: China’s growing influence in the region.

North Korea’s weapons sales aren’t just about cash. They sustain a system of authoritarian survival where regimes like Myanmar’s depend on illicit procurement networks, with China and Russia providing political and economic cover. By hitting this arms pipeline, Washington isn’t simply targeting Myanmar’s bombs. It’s trying to show that the U.S. can still reach into China’s influence and disrupt the back channels that make its partners resilient.

This is where economic and security wars overlap. Tariffs are meant to choke China’s exports directly, while sanctions are meant to cut into the hidden supply lines and alliances that allow Beijing’s influence to grow. Together, they send a message: if you’re aligned with China, you’re not untouchable to the United States.

But the timing reveals more than the tactics. If Trump were confident in America’s position on the world stage, Myanmar wouldn’t matter. The fact that he’s going after the edges of China’s influence instead of confronting Beijing directly shows a reactive strategy shaped by the pressure of China’s advance.

These sanctions won’t topple Myanmar’s junta or bankrupt Kim Jong Un. What they reveal is the Trump regime’s growing anxiety that China is building a world where the United States no longer dictates the terms. It’s less a show of strength than an admission of weakness – a government responding to China’s rise rather than engineering its own.

3rd & Short: The Island Itinerary

The Epstein files keep dripping – and they’re hitting the tech oligarchs and senators alike.

Newly released files from Epstein’s estate – his calendars, flight logs, and lead sheets – show that he scheduled meetings with Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and even had Elon Musk penciled in for a possible trip to his island. These weren’t speculations, they were plans straight from his own schedule, provided to the House Oversight Committee.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) cast the deciding vote to block a Senate amendment that would’ve forced the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files. Reporting from Tara Palmeri revealed Murkowski had overlapping public ties with Ghislaine Maxwell and her spouse in environmental causes and Arctic circles that included appearances which, if innocent, are politically toxic at best.

In the House, another fight is underway. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are leading the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the files, bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson and leadership. Massie has speculated he has the votes or is on the verge of the 218 signatures needed, but Trump has been actively threatening anyone who signs on. If successful, the House could be forced into an up-or-down vote as soon as October.

Think about what this means: the schedule suggests Epstein was drawing in some of the most influential names in tech and politics. The Senate vote shows the angles of power still protect the powerful. And a senator whose political brand is “independent Republican,” was the swing vote to keep the silence going on child trafficking.

The deeper question: How many of those scheduled meetings actually happened? How many times did Epstein meet with Peter Thiel, who has government contracts and personal relations with the vice president? Epstein always ran in the shadows, dangling the possibility of scandal to control some of the world’s most powerful. These files would crack that wide open.

The structure of secrecy that has protected Epstein’s network is the same one shielding today’s political and business elite. The silence, the procedural votes, the redactions, the blatant coverup – it begs the question:

What in god’s name is in those files?

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Fourth & Democracy: Another Week, Another Invasion

Trump has ordered federal forces into Portland, citing the need to “protect” federal and immigration facilities. State leaders in Oregon, including the Governor, are pushing back – calling the deployments unconstitutional and preparing legal action, but the White House has already moved ahead. What used to be described as law and order is becoming a rolling practice of sending ICE, DHS, or National Guard units under the banner of public safety, even when cities reject it.

The timing isn’t accidental either. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called together hundreds of generals and admirals for an unusual gathering at Quantico – a show of military force and unity – and Trump himself now plans to attend and address them directly. The administration insists it’s about “warrior ethos,” but the optics are unavoidable: a president escalating domestic deployments while rallying senior brass into one room.

These two moves fit the script. Each week brings another assault on a new city, another justification for boots on the ground. First Los Angeles, then Chicago, then Portland – the cycle repeats until it no longer feels like escalation, just a new normal. By the time the 2026 midterms arrive, Americans could be casting ballots under the watchful eye of federal forces.

That’s what authoritarianism looks like in practice. Rights aren’t suspended overnight, they’re eroded through repetition. Deployments against American citizens are justified as temporary and become precedent. Closed-door military meetings become political theater. And week by week, city by city, the line between civilian life and military presence blurs even more.

The midterms will not just test which party controls Congress. They will test whether elections can even take place free of federal intimidation. If Trump keeps treating American cities as the enemy, 2026 won’t look anything like democracy – it will look like a reality show performance under occupation.

Post-game Presser:

The Saudi royal family’s sports-washing streak rolled on Monday when Electronic Arts agreed to a $55 billion deal to go private – brokered by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Coming to a console near you: Madden ‘27, Jamal Khashoggi Edition.

What to Watch

• Black Rabbit (Netflix) – Jason Bateman and Jude Law team up in this dark limited series that blends crime drama with panic-inducing thriller. Bateman directs and stars and the early reviews suggest Ozark meets Uncut Gems.

• One Battle After Another (In Theaters) – Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest picture, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a political thriller that doubles as social critique. DiCaprio plays a former radical pulled back into conflict when his past collides with his daughter’s future. This is the kind of movie that sticks with you after the credits have rolled.

• College Football and NFL Weekend Slate – Miami (FL) vs. Florida State – a top tier rivalry with playoff implications. Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State – A&M is riding high but Mississippi State has a thing for pulling off upsets. 49ers at Rams – Early control of the NFC West could be on the line. Vikings vs Browns – Minnesota looks to bounce back against Cleveland’s top tier defense.

Upcoming Drops – Play It Safe

• Battlefield 6 (October 10, 2025) – Early impressions praise the return to classic Battlefield scale, destruction, and sound design. Multiplayer is shaping up as the clear strength but the campaign has drawn criticism for a lack of polish. Squad AI has its quirks, but the excitement is real: over 520,000 concurrent players joined the beta, the highest in franchise history.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (November 14, 2025) – After backlash over the absurd cosmetics in last year’s release, creators say they’ve reined in collaborations that didn’t “feel Black Ops.” A new co-op campaign and 32-player endgame mode are headline features. Reviews will hinge on whether they can move past micro-transactions and earn back player trust. The open beta runs October 2-8.

What to Read

Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman

A modern classic in psychology and decision-making. Kahneman breaks down the two systems of human thought: the fast, intuitive side and the slower, deliberate one. For anyone watching politics, media, or markets, it’s essential reading on how people are manipulated – and how leaders exploit that to their advantage. The book can be dense at times, but the insights land in an environment where snap judgements and engineered outrage are weaponized daily.

How to Push Back

• Subscribe to Lincoln Square — support for independent media allows our voices to become stronger and break through algorithms attempting to keep us quiet.

• No Kings Protest — October 18th. You’ll be surrounded by community, likeminded and even opposing points of view — all for a common cause: No Kings in America.

• Contact your elected officials and leadership here.

• Use Your Voice — Attend a local municipal or city-council meeting. Speak out regarding an important issue at a school board meeting. Start the newsletter you’ve been meaning to. Talk to a family member about an issue in the news. Be the first step in the discussion of change.

Stay loud. Stay grounded. Stay up.