FiveStack with Dean Blundell & Zev Shalev

5️⃣ Danish MEP Tells Trump to “F**k Off”A Danish member of the European Parliament delivered the most direct response yet to Donald Trump’s Greenland threats when Anders Vistisen told the chamber: “Let me put this in words you might understand, Mr. President: f**k off.” The Parliament vice president immediately censured Vistisen for offensive language, but the MEP defended his approach, saying “the only language that Trump understands is direct language.” Danish lawmaker Rasmus Jarlov went further, warning CNN that any U.S. invasion of Greenland would be “an act of war” that Denmark would resist militarily despite being outmatched. As Zev noted on the show, European frustration with diplomatic niceties that Trump ignores has reached a breaking point. Dean observed that we’re watching world leaders do “the unthinkable that they thought would not be possible six months ago” - standing up face-to-face to the Trump regime with a solid “go f**k yourself.”4️⃣ Alberta Separatism Surges on Bannon PlaybookMassive lineups wrapped around community halls in Red Deer and Eckville as Albertans signed petitions calling for the province to separate from Canada, with the timing raising serious questions about foreign influence. The Alberta Prosperity Project needs signatures to trigger a referendum asking “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?” Support for separation has jumped to 31% from 25% before the federal election, and the movement is using Steve Bannon’s “flood the zone with s**t” disinformation playbook according to political analysts. Premier Danielle Smith’s government changed rules to enable the referendum even after courts declared the original question unconstitutional. Dean called it out bluntly: “Alberta’s not gonna separate from Canada, no matter how hard Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, try to justify the idea.” Former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk’s counter-petition supporting staying in Canada has collected 456,000 signatures, and some Alberta protesters have been seen carrying U.S. flags - a troubling sign of foreign coordination.3️⃣ Mark Carney Declares “Old Order Dead” at DavosCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a devastating assessment at the World Economic Forum, telling global leaders that the U.S.-led rules-based international order is over and middle powers must unite against coercion. “The old order is not coming back,” Carney told the chamber. “We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.” Using a powerful analogy from Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, Carney described how systems persist when everyone participates in rituals they know to be false, declaring “it is time for companies and countries to take their signs down.” He announced Canada just signed strategic partnerships with China and Qatar, ending years of diplomatic bad blood, and said he stands “firmly” with Denmark on Greenland. Dean was electrified by the speech: “Mark Carney stood up today and basically f*****g detonated the Trump regime.” French President Emmanuel Macron followed with his own warning that “we prefer respect to bullies,” pushing the EU to activate its anti-coercion instrument that could restrict U.S. companies’ access to European markets worth $8 trillion. EU leaders hold an emergency summit Thursday to discuss $108 billion in retaliatory tariffs.2️⃣ Markets in Freefall as Trump Chaos Takes TollWall Street suffered its worst day since October as Trump’s diplomatic meltdown triggered a global flight from American investments. The Dow crashed 849 points, the S&P 500 fell 1.89%, and the Nasdaq dropped 2.12%. Ten-year Treasury yields spiked to 4.28% - the highest since September - as confidence in U.S. assets evaporated, while thirty-year yields hit 4.91% and the dollar collapsed 1%. The selloff came after Trump leaked private messages from French President Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, posted AI-generated images of the American flag over Greenland, and threatened 200% tariffs on French wine. Analysts warned that “Europe holds roughly $10 trillion in U.S. bonds and equities” that “could be leveraged amid escalating trade tensions.” As Zev pointed out, this isn’t market jitters - it’s a measurable calculation: “When you hold $10 trillion in U.S. assets and the president threatens your territory, those assets become leverage. Trump just handed Europe the nuclear option.”1️⃣ New York Times: Trump Pocketed $1.4 BillionThe New York Times editorial board published a detailed accounting showing President Trump has used the office to pocket at least $1.4 billion - an amount equal to 16,822 times the median U.S. household income. The breakdown includes $867 million from cryptocurrency ventures, $90.5 million from tech and media settlements with Amazon, Meta, X, ABC and Paramount, $28 million from Amazon for a Melania documentary, $23 million from overseas licensing deals, and a Boeing 747 from Qatar worth $400 million that Trump plans to keep for his presidential library. The Times noted that “this tally focuses on documented gains” and that “$1.4 billion is a minimum, not a full accounting.” The editorial warned that “when the aim of government shifts from public good to private gain, its constitution becomes an empty shell.” Dean summed it up perfectly: “The financial crimes will make his crimes against humanity pale in comparison.”Today’s stories reveal the same pattern told five different ways: a president monetizing the office while European allies prepare economic warfare, markets price in American unreliability, and separatist movements mobilize using authoritarian playbooks.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Robin Payes, Nancy McAllister, Leah Anderson, Noble Blend, Lalisa, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ Insurrection Day: 1,500 Troops on Standby for MinnesotaThe Pentagon has ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota as Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act for the first time in the 21st century. “This is the first time that I can recall in my history, the United States government willing to send in military troops into the streets of Minnesota,” Zev said on today’s show. The DOJ is also investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly inciting violence against federal immigration agents. “They’re investigating the mayor of Minneapolis and the governor of Minnesota for inciting all this violence, which means these guys won’t be able to run in the next election,” Zev explained. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called state officials’ resistance “terrorism” and promised to stop them “by whatever means necessary.” As Dean put it: “To cover up crimes against children, Donald Trump is going to war against the people of Minnesota.”4️⃣ Trump’s Norway Letter: No Longer Feeling “Purely of Peace”Trump sent a stunning letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre overnight, directly linking his Greenland demands to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” Trump wrote. The letter was so outrageous that European journalists initially doubted it was real. “At first, several journalists doubted the veracity of the document,” Jacob Kaarsbo, former Danish intelligence officer, explained on the show. “So it was only actually when the Norwegian prime minister came out and really said, well, this is it. I received it. It’s true. So that’s how crazy it is. You know, people just didn’t believe it.” Dean compared it to “sending a letter to my high school saying I am going to foreclose and buy that entire area the high school’s on because you didn’t name me the valedictorian in 1993.” The letter came as Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight NATO allies starting February 1, rising to 25% by June unless the U.S. gets “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”3️⃣ Europe Prepares to Fight BackEight NATO allies issued a joint statement Sunday warning that Trump's tariff threats "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral." French President Emmanuel Macron requested the EU activate its "trade bazooka"—a retaliation tool that could devastate U.S. access to European markets. But Jacob Kaarsbo revealed the military calculations happening behind the scenes: "Together, Canada and the Nordic States, France, Germany and Great Britain and the Dutch also, we have times four of the U.S. capacity to actually fight in the Arctic." He warned that Europe is prepared to send a stark message: "We have to be ready to tell Donald Trump that your first at least 1,000 soldiers are going to come back to the US in body bags. We think it's a terribly bad idea." Jacob also addressed European leaders still hoping to keep Trump engaged: "There's this whole longing to keep Donald Trump in the NATO tent. And I'm afraid we can't do that. You know, it's just something we imagine, something we hope, but the reality tells us otherwise."2️⃣ The Real Story: Epstein Files Cover-UpWhile Minnesota and Greenland dominate headlines, Dean pointed to what’s being buried: “What aren’t we talking about today? The Epstein files. We’re not talking about 1% of the Epstein files being released and Pam Bondi sending a letter to the oversight committee a few days ago saying we’re not releasing anything. No one has reported on that story.” He emphasized the calculated distraction: “All of this is b******t. Everything Donald Trump is trying to do to the people of Greenland, everything he’s doing to the people in Minnesota, every threat that he tables, every letter he sends ahead of state blaming them for not giving him a f*****g Nobel Peace Prize is all a distraction.” Zev laid out the pattern: “This is about making sure the American people and everyone around the world knows exactly what’s going on. This is a war against democracy, and it’s been going on for many years, but it’s about to get very kinetic.”1️⃣ Dean and Team Deploying to Greenland This WeekDean Blundell, Jacob Kaarsbo, Malcolm Nance, Ken Harbaugh, and Denver Riggleman are traveling to Greenland this week to report from the ground as tensions escalate. “Why are we going to Greenland? Because all of this is b******t,” Dean explained. He warned about potential military action: “That 11th Airborne that’s getting ready to go into Minnesota might not be about Minnesota either. It might be that they’re prepping the 11th Airborne to literally fly over Narsarsak or one of the other old military bases, take that base, and then just march into town and start arresting politicians.” The team will document the reality on the ground, interviewing Greenlanders about Trump’s threats. Dean emphasized the importance: “I want to talk to those people. So your support can come in the form of a subscription. That’s all I care about because I want you to share the content.”From targeting journalists and threatening troops against American cities to extorting allies and dismantling NATO—this is Day 7 of the Trump administration showing the same pattern: concentrated executive power, elimination of checks and balances, and the systematic destruction of democratic norms.ShareThe FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ ICE Tear Gasses Family With Six KidsA Minneapolis couple driving home from their kid’s basketball game Wednesday night got caught between ICE and protesters in North Minneapolis. Six children in the car, the youngest just six months old. ICE surrounded them, started lobbing tear gas and stun grenades, and a canister rolled under the vehicle. “The blast set off the airbags, smoke filling the vehicle, kids screaming,” Zev reported. The father kicked the door open, blinded by tear gas, and started pulling kids out while the baby stopped breathing in his car seat. Bystanders performed CPR on the six-month-old and poured milk on the other children to neutralize the gas. “The baby came back before EMTs got there,” Zev said. Three kids were hospitalized, two with severe asthma. Dean pointed out that enrollment in Proud Boys and Oath Keepers has plummeted 75 percent—because they’ve all joined ICE.4️⃣ Canada’s China DealMark Carney announced a massive trade deal with China, slashing tariffs on Chinese EVs from 100 percent to 6.1 percent for up to 49,000 vehicles while China dropped tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, and other agricultural products. Dean argued Trump forced Canada into a corner, but Zev pushed back hard. “China has been doing economic warfare on Canada for a while,” Zev warned, noting China desperately wants Arctic access, Canadian farmland to feed its population, and “an easy to capture government.” He pointed out that Russia acts as China’s proxy—”if you blame Russia for making Trump happen, you can blame China.” While Dean celebrated the deal helping Saskatchewan farmers, Zev called it “another version of selling out to the Chinese” and warned that China’s 30-year plans “don’t leave any room for real democracy anywhere in the world.” When Carney announced Canada was preparing for “the new world order,” Zev’s response was blunt: “That’s terrible. I’m not ready to concede yet.”3️⃣ Trump Won’t Rule Out War With NATO CountriesA reporter asked Trump if he would leave NATO to seize Greenland, and his answer was chilling: “I wouldn’t be telling you what I’m willing to do. But Greenland is very important for national security.” Then he linked it to Venezuela. “He is willing to go to war with NATO, so he says publicly, which I’ve never heard an American president say since the formation of NATO,” Zev reported. Meanwhile, troops are deploying to Greenland from Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands in what they’re calling Operation Northern Endurance Exercises. Dean announced he’s traveling to Greenland and Denmark next week with the cast of The ‘A’ Team: Ken Harbaugh, Malcolm Nance, Denver Riggleman, and Jacob Kaarsbo to interview the Prime Minister and visit Arctic Command—because “nobody is telling Greenland’s truth.” Support their mission at deanblundell.substack.com2️⃣ Pay-to-Play PardonsTrump’s been handing out pardons to wealthy criminals who donated to his campaign. Julio Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan-Italian banker whose daughter Isabella donated $3.5 million to MAGA Inc.—$2.5 million while dad faced felony charges, another million after his lawyer cut a plea deal—got pardoned along with his co-defendants, including former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez and former FBI agent Mark Rossini. “He’s pardoning people that pled guilty,” Zev noted incredulously. Then there’s Adriana Camberos, whom Trump pardoned twice—first in 2021 for a counterfeit five-hour energy scheme, then again after she got out and immediately committed new fraud. “There is a way out of jail in America,” Zev said. “You just have to pay the president.”1️⃣ Insurrection Act Means TanksTrump posted on Truth Social: “FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!” He’s not bluffing about the Insurrection Act. “Tanks in the streets, military checkpoints, soldiers with live ammunition enforcing curfews on American streets—that is what the Insurrection Act actually means,” Zev warned. Stephen Miller is already arguing on television that Minnesota’s governor and mayor are “insurrection leaders.” Trump’s immigration policy is now polling at just 31 percent, with independents turning away from his crackdown. A new political report shows 18 seats now leaning Democrat for November. “They know they’re in a hurry because they’ve got to get it done before the elections,” Zev said. The clock is ticking on Trump’s authoritarian ambitions.Minneapolis to Greenland to Beijing—power without constraint, consequences for people who don’t pay.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Ellie Leonard, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, Cat, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Today’s FIVESTACK is powered by Ground News. In an era where media bias shapes every headline, Ground News shows you how the same story is covered across the political spectrum. Compare coverage from over 50,000 sources worldwide and see who’s covering what and who isn’t. Right now, FiveStack viewers get 40% off the Vantage subscription at www.groundnews.com/fivestack. That’s www.groundnews.com/fivestack for 40% off.5️⃣ Trump: We Shouldn’t Even Have ElectionsThe President of the United States told Reuters he doesn’t think elections are necessary. When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election, Trump said, expressing frustration about potential Republican losses in the 2026 midterms. It’s some deep psychological thing, but when you win the presidency, you don’t win the midterms. Then he doubled down: I had accomplished so much that when you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election. This isn’t campaign rhetoric or Trump being hyperbolic. He’s genuinely frustrated that democracy requires him to face voters again, conditioning his base to accept the idea that elections themselves are obstacles to his agenda. Coming hours after threatening the Insurrection Act against Minnesota protesters, Trump is openly questioning whether democratic processes should apply to him. As Dean noted on today’s show, Trump has always been intent on finding a way to manufacture visual violence and turn that into policy where he can cancel elections and call martial law.4️⃣ Minneapolis: Insurrection Act ThreatenedTrump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act this morning, deploying the military against American protesters in Minnesota. If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE, I will institute the Insurrection Act, Trump posted on Truth Social. The threat came after 2,000 federal agents flooded Minneapolis in what Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called a federal invasion. ICE shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and US citizen, one week ago. Wednesday night, ICE shot another man in the leg. But the story getting almost no coverage: ICE is detaining Indigenous Americans, including four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, three still in custody at Fort Snelling. That’s the same site where in 1862, US forces imprisoned 1,700 Indigenous people following the US-Dakota War. Many died of torture, starvation, and disease. ICE is holding Indigenous Americans at a historic concentration camp site, and Trump’s threatening martial law against anyone who protests.3️⃣ Visa Ban: 75 Countries FrozenStarting January 21, the United States indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries. Afghanistan, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Russia, Somalia, Yemen, and 67 others are now banned from sending immigrants to the US. The administration cited public charge concerns, claiming these countries send people likely to become dependent on government assistance. Tourist visas remain unaffected for now, but the ban represents one of the largest restrictions on legal immigration in modern American history. The policy went into effect with virtually no notice, leaving thousands of families separated indefinitely and undermining decades of diplomatic relationships across four continents.2️⃣ Canada Pivots to ChinaCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing today for meetings with Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a Canadian leader in eight years. With 75 percent of Canadian exports going to the United States, Canada is desperately hedging against Trump’s threatened tariffs and erratic trade policy. The goal is straightforward: double exports to other countries and reduce dependence on an increasingly unreliable American market. Trump’s threats to allies are forcing traditional partners to seek new arrangements. Canada turning to China represents a fundamental realignment of North American trade relationships that would have been unthinkable three years ago.1️⃣ Greenland: Guns LoadedSix European NATO members deployed troops to Greenland today: Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, Netherlands, and Finland. The deployment came one day after a White House meeting with Denmark and Greenland ended in what officials called fundamental disagreement. Trump called US control of Greenland non-negotiable and referenced the Venezuela military action as a threat. Anything less than US control is unacceptable, Trump said. This is a NATO Article 5 crisis. Trump is threatening military force against a NATO ally. As Malcolm Nance pointed out on today’s show, 35,000 Greenlanders own powerful long rifles for hunting in Arctic conditions. Those 35,000 soldiers with long rifles live in the harshest conditions in the world and are more than willing to welcome American troops rudely. Denmark has zero intention of surrendering their territory, and the US military has zero icebreakers compared to dozens operated by Nordic countries. Only 17 percent of Americans approve of taking Greenland by force.Trump said we shouldn’t have elections. He threatened the Insurrection Act. He banned 75 countries from sending immigrants. Canada’s fleeing to China. Europe’s defending Greenland with troops. This isn’t normal political conflict. It’s coordinated autocratic escalation.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Get 40% off Ground News at www.groundnews.com/fivestack to see how media bias shapes the news. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thanks NeuroDivergent Hodgepodge, John Liccione, Robin Payes, Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣, Karen Gordon, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

MICHAEL COHEN AND THE EPSTEIN FILESInvestigative journalist Ellie Leonard broke major news on today’s show about Michael Cohen’s previously unknown connections to Jeffrey Epstein’s network. Leonard, who has been meticulously combing through the Epstein files, discovered that Cohen was working on Epstein-related matters as early as 2003 - years before his official role as Trump’s personal attorney. According to Leonard’s analysis of the documents, Cohen was involved in the same kind of catch and kill operations he later executed for Trump with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Blundell observed that Cohen’s pattern was consistent across cases, handling these matters with the same playbook. The discovery raises significant questions about the depth of Trump’s knowledge of Epstein’s activities and when that relationship really began. Leonard explained that Cohen was Trump’s fixer during a critical period when Trump and Epstein were allegedly involved together in the Katie Johnson case.Paid Subscribers Can Access a Deeper Dive BelowKATIE JOHNSON AND THE TOM BARRACK CONNECTIONThe most explosive revelation involved Katie Johnson, who accused both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump of raping her when she was 13 years old. According to Zev’s research, when Epstein learned about the Katie Johnson allegations, the first person he contacted was Tom Barrack, who at the time was heading Trump’s presidential campaign finance committee. Epstein sent Barrack an email calling the case nuts, but then kept detailed track of every development through his attorney, with Barrack monitoring it closely as well. This pattern shows how close the Epstein-Barrack relationship really was, even if Epstein’s relationship with Trump had publicly cooled. The immediate alert to Trump’s campaign finance chair about sexual assault allegations involving Trump demonstrates the intertwined nature of these networks at the highest levels. Leonard also noted there are 31 credible sexual assault accusations against Trump, and the Katie Johnson case represents the intersection of Trump and Epstein’s alleged criminal activity.LEV PARNAS’S IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR ACCOUNTABILITYLev Parnas joined the show with an urgent message about the Epstein investigation. Blundell described Parnas’s advocacy as mission-driven and authentic, emphasizing that there’s nothing performative about his work. Parnas, whose decision to expose Trump’s Ukraine scheme cost him everything but gave him clarity about how these criminal networks operate, made clear during the show that every connection in the Epstein files matters. This isn’t about scoring political points - it’s about holding powerful people accountable for crimes that have been covered up for decades. Blundell stressed that Parnas isn’t chasing headlines or building a brand, but is genuinely committed to bringing democracy back and ensuring these networks can’t continue operating with impunity. Parnas’s unique experience understanding how cover-ups work, how fixers like Michael Cohen operate, and why following every thread matters informed his participation in today’s discussion. His presence on the show underscored a central point made throughout the episode: the Epstein investigation isn’t a distraction from current threats to democracy - it’s the key to understanding how corruption, sexual abuse, and authoritarian power have been intertwined at the highest levels for decades. The people who enabled Epstein are still in power, still making decisions, still protecting each other.GREENLAND DIPLOMATIC STALEMATEIn breaking news from earlier today, Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House to discuss Trump’s continued push to acquire Greenland. The meeting produced what Shalev described as a diplomatic snooze - both sides agreed to have more high-level meetings in a few weeks but reached no concrete agreement on either selling Greenland or allowing any military takeover. According to Shalev’s analysis, this outcome is good news for those who prefer not to see NATO dissolve or allies feuding with each other. The administration’s aggressive posture toward a NATO ally’s territory remains unresolved, with working groups now tasked with finding some face-saving compromise that allows both sides to claim progress without fundamentally changing Greenland’s status. Denmark and Greenland made clear they’re willing to strengthen security cooperation but have no intention of becoming American property.The show featured Dean Blundell, Zev Shalev, and special guest Ellie Leonard of The Panicked Writer, As well as Lev Parnas.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Nick Paro, Cash Flow Collective, Cat, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Story Carrier, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell, Lev Parnas, and Ellie Leonard! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Former Senior Border Patrol Agent Jenn Budd joined Nick Paro and Zev Shalev today with revelations that explain exactly how Renee Nicole Good ended up dead on a Minneapolis street.THE GREEN LIGHT TO KILLBudd points to an executive order from September 25, 2025 that labeled people with “extreme views on gender” and “extreme views on migration” as domestic terrorists. Good had a gay pride sticker on her car. She was monitoring ICE activity. “She met two of those criteria. He’s been given the green light to see her as a domestic terrorist.”THE COVER-UP TEAMSBorder Patrol has operated illegal “Critical Incident Teams” since 1987. Their job: show up at shootings and make the evidence say what they want it to say. The Biden administration disbanded them, declaring they “never had the right to exist.” No Border Patrol agent has ever been convicted for killing anyone—American or migrant—in the agency’s 101-year history.JONATHAN ROSS VIOLATED HIS OWN TRAININGRoss is a firearms instructor with over 10 years in Border Patrol and ICE. He teaches agents how to safely approach vehicles. Yet he stood directly behind her bumper. He walked right up against the hood. He had his phone in his right hand—his gun hand—until the moment he decided to draw. “He creates—he is escalating the violence in that moment. He caused that to happen.”Budd’s assessment: “When I look at how they approach that vehicle, it’s obvious to me they don’t see her as a real threat. They’re going to teach them a lesson is what I see.”THE HATRED OF WOMEN“There’s nothing that a lot of these Border Patrol agents hate more than undocumented immigrants. It’s women. They really do not like women.” Budd herself was “hazed in with a sexual assault”—standard practice for women entering the agency. “That’s how you prove how strong you are.”THE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST PIPELINEAfter 9/11, hiring shifted to “right-wing Christians, fundamentalists.” Churches near the border tell agents they’re heroes doing God’s work, quoting Isaiah 6:8—a passage about laying waste to sinful cities while closing your eyes to what’s required. Charlie Kirk came to these churches and told agents they’d need to “stomach” what was coming, and that “the real problem we have are the people who are here legally and the people who don’t agree with us.”THE MILITARY CONVERSION38% of agents are now former military. They wear camo. They call assignments “tours.” They treat migrants—and now American civilians—as “enemy combatants.” They’re staying on military bases while conducting raids in Democratic cities.WHAT’S COMINGBudd warns that during the 2026 midterms, agents will approach voters in line: “I don’t think you’re a citizen.” They’ll detain people for hours, release them after the polls close. “They can’t take all of us. We are way, way, way more than they are. They just want you to think they are bigger than they are.”Jenn Budd’s Substack: Borderland Talk Her book: Against the Wall: My Journey from Border Patrol Agent to Immigrant Rights ActivistThank you Rachel @ This Woman Votes, Cheech Previti, Debbie Hupp, Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣, Nancy McAllister, and many others for tuning into my live video with Nick Paro and Banner & Backbone Media! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Renee Nicole Good, 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by ICE Officer Jeffrey Ross Thursday morning in Minneapolis. Her wife Rebecca Good witnessed the shooting while filming with her phone. Vice President JD Vance posted edited footage from Ross’s phone claiming the officer fired in self-defense, but over 40 videos including ring camera footage from across the street tell a different story. Ross walked around Renee’s car multiple times while recording with his phone before positioning himself in front of her vehicle. When she backed up to avoid him and attempted to drive around, he fired twice. She was not threatening him. Her hands were visible outside the window. Stuffed animals for her six-year-old son were on the front seat. Ross was not struck, not injured, not run over. Rebecca Good’s statement: “We stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.” Renee had just dropped their son at school. His father, a Gold Star military service member, died serving the United States. His mother was just murdered exercising her First Amendment rights.Two More Shot in Portland Following Same PatternICE officers shot two more people in Portland Wednesday, claiming they were Venezuelan gang members and prostitutes. No evidence supports this claim. Dean analyzed the dictatorial strategy at deanblundell.substack.com, showing how the administration systematically dehumanizes victims by labeling them terrorists, gangbangers, or illegals before killing them. The pattern is identical: shoot first, lie about the threat, claim immunity, send the message that dissent equals death. They can’t call Renee Good illegal because she’s American, so they’re calling her a domestic terrorist trained to use her car as a weapon. The evidence proves otherwise, but truth doesn’t matter when you’re building a police state.Jack Smith to Testify in Public HearingSpecial Counsel Jack Smith will appear in a public hearing on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks to present his case against Donald Trump. This is the first time the American public will hear directly from the prosecutor who investigated Trump’s crimes. The hearing is expected after February 24th when Judge Aileen Cannon’s gag order expires. As Zev pointed out, if America had an actual independent media network, Jack Smith would get three hours of primetime television to lay out his entire case against Trump. Instead, we’ll get a congressional hearing where half the committee will spend their time defending a criminal.Russia Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile at UkraineRussia fired a nuclear-capable missile at Ukraine yesterday. You’re hearing nothing about it because the Trump regime wants you distracted by manufactured crises while they coordinate with Putin and Xi on regime changes and territorial grabs. Trump had to get Putin and Xi’s blessing to invade Venezuela. Trump and Netanyahu need permission from Putin and Xi to do anything with Iran. This isn’t East versus West. This is a gang of dictators horse trading national borders, deciding who gets Taiwan, who gets Ukraine, who gets Greenland. They don’t care how many people die. They’ll continue making life miserable until millions die in a world war while they steal your money and nationalize your services.The Autocratic Coordination Nobody’s Talking AboutDon’t believe the theater. Like Maduro and Venezuela, any regime change will be optics. If Trump somehow ejects the Iranian regime, it’s only possible because China and Russia allow it. We’re watching an autocratic shell game. Meanwhile, collectivos—paramilitary gangs—are roving through Venezuela checking people’s phones and shooting anyone who helped the United States. Trump blessed that. He told Delcy Rodriguez to do whatever she wants as long as it looks like he saved democracy. Same model Putin uses with his little green men who beat old ladies asking where their sons are. These are the same dictatorships, the same model, the same gang of criminals. Trump laundered Iranian Revolutionary Guard money through his Baku resort with Ivanka leading the design. He’s always taken money from anybody. Now he’s in power, coordinating with the same autocrats, turning pure criminality into policy, and sending you one message: comply or die.The show today analyzed how every killing, every false claim of terrorism, every assertion of immunity is designed to make Americans afraid to speak up, afraid to protest, afraid to exercise their constitutional rights. What is a shooting if not a signal to not make noise, to not pipe up, to stay quiet when confronted by authority because they may just kill you?The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Nick Paro, Cash Flow Collective, Cat, Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣, Leah Anderson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, less than a mile from where George Floyd was murdered, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good through her windshield. Three shots. She died at Hennepin County Medical Center. She was a poet, a wife, a mother to a six-year-old who is now orphaned. Her partner was in the car. Stuffed animals in the front seat. Golden Grahams in the back. She’d just dropped her kid at school.Twenty-four hours later, the Trump regime closed ranks. Today’s show broke down five angles on how authoritarianism protects its own.1. FBI Seizes Control, Freezes Out MinnesotaThursday morning, the FBI announced it was taking complete control of the investigation—and freezing out Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension entirely. No access to evidence. No access to interviews. No access to the scene. “We’re not sure we’re going to get a fair outcome here,” Governor Tim Walz said. This breaks with precedent. After George Floyd’s murder, the FBI and BCA conducted a joint investigation. Not this time. Federal officials unilaterally seized it. As Dean emphasized on today’s show, “This is how cover-ups work in 2026.”2. JD Vance’s Gaslighting Press ConferenceVice President JD Vance held a press conference attempting to paint Good as a “left-wing lunatic.” When pressed on whether he actually knew her politics, Vance admitted “I don’t know, we’re trying to figure that out yet”—but kept pushing the narrative anyway. He called protesters a “paid, organized, trained, fundamental mob of left-wing lunatics preventing ICE from doing their job.” The reality? Good was a church-going white woman who had just dropped her child at school and was trying to navigate conflicting orders from masked agents—one telling her to drive away, another grabbing her door handle screaming “get out of the f***ing car.” Dean called it what it is: “A megalomaniacal fascist gaslighting dump on the memory of a woman that Trump and his regime sanctioned the murder of.”3. Trump Shares Manipulated Video to Justify KillingHours after the shooting, Trump posted video to Truth Social. Forensic analysis by NARATIV and military analyst Nick Paro revealed systematic manipulation: Video slowed to 50 percent, stretching 7 seconds to 13 to make normal movement look threatening. Audio slowed at a different rate—3 to 4 times slower—making her screams of “NO! NO!” completely unintelligible. Possible AI “ghosting effect” creating the illusion someone was being run over when no one was. Cropped 14 pixels from edges to remove context. Compressed to 863 kbps causing extreme quality loss. Re-encoded through Rumble instead of using original source. Speed her voice back up to normal, and you hear what Trump’s team didn’t want anyone to hear: a woman pleading for her life. “The woman in no way was armed, in no way was dangerous, and did not ram anybody,” Dean said, citing former FBI forensic criminologists who’ve analyzed the footage. They’re still running with the lie anyway.4. Noem Defends Shooter, Congress Prepares ImpeachmentDHS Secretary Kristi Noem called Good a “domestic terrorist” who “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over.” She called ICE agent Jonathan Ross “an experienced officer who followed his training.” When asked about Minnesota being frozen out of the investigation, Noem attacked the state itself: “Minnesota is a train wreck. It’s corrupt.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s response: “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.” Now House members are drafting Articles of Impeachment against Noem with six counts: abuse of power, deprivation of civil rights under color of law, systematic deception of the public, dehumanization as policy, failure to supervise federal law enforcement, and pattern of ethical corruption.5. Protests Grow as 2,000 More ICE Agents Flood MinneapolisHundreds of demonstrators gathered Thursday morning outside federal buildings, heckling ICE agents as they arrived for work. “No more Minnesota nice; we don’t want your fascist ICE,” they chanted. Police deployed tear gas. Arrests were made. One protester wore a sandwich board with Smokey Bear saying “Only you can prevent fascist liars.” Another handed out whistles so neighbors could alert each other if they see ICE agents. “It feels like we are reliving the George Floyd moment,” one protester said. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is deploying 2,000 additional ICE agents into Minneapolis. The message is clear: we’re not backing down. As Dean noted, this isn’t just about immigration anymore—”they’re coming after Americans now, white Americans. And that makes a difference.”The shooter has been identified: ICE agent Jonathan Ross. The FBI seized the investigation. The Vice President smeared her. The President shared manipulated footage. The DHS Secretary called her a terrorist. Congress is preparing impeachment. And 2,000 more agents are flooding the city.Renee Nicole Good. Remember her name.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Lev Parnas, Nick Paro, Pilar Gerasimo, Nancy McAllister, P. J. Schuster, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

This morning, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, in south Minneapolis during what the Department of Homeland Security calls “the largest immigration operation ever.”The shooting happened at 34th Street and Portland Avenue around 10:45 AM local time. Good’s mother identified her daughter to the Minnesota Star Tribune. The woman - a white, middle-aged resident not targeted by any investigation - was in her vehicle when ICE agents conducting “targeted operations” encountered community members attempting to block their vehicles.Video posted on social media shows agents surrounding Good’s vehicle. The footage shows her reversing, then accelerating. One agent appeared to fire multiple rounds into the car. She crashed and died from a gunshot wound to the head.ICE immediately labeled her actions an attempt “to run over” agents and claimed the agent “fired defensive shots.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called it “domestic terrorism.”Video of the shooting tells a different story. The footage shows Good’s car trying to leave - not ramming anyone, not threatening anyone. Just trying to escape.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saw the video. Here’s what he said at a City Hall press conference this afternoon:“To ICE: get the f**k out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt. Families are being ripped apart. Long-term Minneapolis residents are being terrorized and now somebody is dead. That’s on you. And it’s also on you to leave.”Then Frey issued a warning to Minneapolis residents - and it’s the most important part of his statement:“We all know that the agenda of this Trump administration is to create chaos. They want us to respond in a way that creates a military occupation in our city. They want an excuse to come in and show the kind of force that will create more chaos and more despair. Let’s not let them.”This is the trap. This is what they wanted.Three days ago, 2,000 ICE agents were deployed to the Twin Cities. Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz announced he will not seek reelection, ending his campaign amid sustained federal pressure over fraud allegations. Hours later, the Trump administration froze $10 billion in federal funding to five blue states - California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.Now Renee Nicole Good is dead in the streets of Minneapolis.This is the pattern: deploy federal agents, cut federal funding, force Democratic governors out of office, then use any resistance as justification for military occupation.Frey sees it clearly. Governor Walz joined him in calling for calm. They’re both urging peaceful protest. They’re asking Minneapolis not to give Trump the excuse he’s looking for.But Renee Nicole Good is already dead. And Homeland Security is calling her a domestic terrorist.After Venezuela, after Greenland threats, after seizing oil and threatening NATO allies - federal force is now being used on American streets against American communities. And when communities resist, ICE opens fire.Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed what the video shows: “It is obviously very concerning whenever there’s a shooting into a vehicle of someone who’s not armed.”The FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are now investigating whether state laws were violated. But the damage is done. The provocation worked. Renee Nicole Good is dead.And 2,000 more ICE agents remain in Minnesota.This is what occupation looks like in a liberal American city in 2026.Renee Nicole Good was 37 years old. May she rest in peace.Watch the full breaking news coverage above. Thank you Ellie Leonard, Nick Paro, Story Carrier, Robin Payes, Angie T, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ Canada Prepares for US Military Coercion as White House Confirms Military Options for GreenlandThe unthinkable became thinkable this weekend as Canada’s Globe & Mail published what independent outlets have been warning for months: Canada must prepare for US military coercion. Not invasion, but leverage. Then the White House made it official—Reuters reported today that Trump and his team are actively discussing options for acquiring Greenland, with the White House stating “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal.” A senior official confirmed discussions are active in the Oval Office and that Trump expects to acquire Greenland during his remaining three years in office, adding “it’s not going away” despite objections from NATO leaders. Denmark’s Prime Minister went even further, declaring a US attack on Greenland would mark the end of NATO, the end of the international community as we know it, the end of democratic rule. As Dean noted, it’s not about invading Canada in as much as it is about pestering, destroying, creating coercion around Canada using their military might. Canada is not up for grabs—it’s a nation of 42 million people, a sovereign nation under the Commonwealth with deep security ties and a major producer of everything the world wants. The Venezuela operation that Trump called proof of concept showed the playbook, yet there’s still no assault footage despite claims of 150+ aircraft and Delta Force raids. When your longest ally starts treating sovereignty as conditional, you don’t wait for leverage to be used—you reduce it so it can’t be used.4️⃣ RFK Jr Guts Childhood Vaccine Schedule With No Safety ReviewYesterday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cut the CDC’s childhood vaccination schedule from 17 diseases to 11 with no public comment period, no ACIP approval, no normal safety review process—just immediate implementation of the most significant change to federal vaccine policy in modern history. The gutted schedule removes protections for mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, rotavirus, chickenpox, and HPV while keeping only polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, HIB, pneumococcal, COVID, influenza, and meningococcal. As Zev pointed out, this can affect the lives of so many Americans and so many American children. Dean put it bluntly: vaccines are kind of amazing—they sort of stop disease, and none of us are here without vaccines. Before vaccines, specifically the MMR and polio vaccines, the infant mortality rate in North America was something like 22 or 23 percent. This happened while everyone watched Venezuela, part of a pattern where irreversible changes get implemented before democratic response mechanisms can activate.3️⃣ Iran Protests Spread Across Majority of ProvincesAnti-government protests erupted across Iran over the weekend, spreading to the majority of provinces according to verified videos. This is happening while Trump positions military assets throughout the region following the Venezuela operation. As the show noted, this could be another one of his expansionist plans, or maybe he’ll just strike out at the Iranian government—Venezuela wasn’t about Maduro, it was proof of concept. When a US president demonstrates he’ll use military force without congressional authorization, brief oil companies before Congress, and install compliant leadership, every authoritarian regime calculates their exposure. Iran’s protesters see the same pattern the world is watching.2️⃣ Jan 6 Memorial Plaque Vanished as Proud Boys March to CapitolFive years after the Capitol attack, the official plaque honoring police who defended democracy has vanished—location unknown, removal undocumented. Today, pardoned Proud Boys including former leader Enrique Tarrio marched to the Capitol they once attacked, calling it patriotic and peaceful. The scrubbing of January 6th from absolutely every major agency—the FBI, the Department of Justice—has resulted in deleted case records and 1,500 pardoned criminals. As Zev explained, the administration is determined to erase January 6th from the history books, and they’re not proving unsuccessful. This is how authoritarians rewrite history—not decades later in textbooks, but immediately, while witnesses still live, while footage still exists, while the injured still recover.1️⃣ Defense Secretary Censures Senator for Warning Troops About Illegal OrdersDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally censured Senator Mark Kelly yesterday and initiated proceedings to reduce his military retirement rank and pay. Kelly’s crime? A November video with five other Democratic lawmakers telling service members they have the right to refuse illegal orders. Hegseth called these seditious statements that undermined good order and military discipline. Dean provided the contrast: Mark Kelly is one of America’s most decorated naval fighter pilots, an astronaut who flew space shuttle missions, husband of Gabby Giffords—he really is the very best America has to offer in terms of a military man. The guy that demoted him is a drunk weekend Fox News anchor turned Department of War secretary with seven children with three different women, several NDAs for sexual assault and rape, who couldn’t keep a job with a nonprofit veterans organization prior to going to Fox News. Kelly responded defiantly, essentially saying he doesn’t give a f**k—he’s still Mark Kelly, and Hegseth is still Pete Hegseth. When warning about illegal orders becomes the crime, the illegal orders are already here.Five stories, one pattern: The regime continues to turn everything good into bad. The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you This Will Hold, Ellie Leonard, Nick Paro, Cash Flow Collective, Pilar Gerasimo, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ Maduro’s Manhattan Court Appearance Reveals the Staged CaptureVenezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in Manhattan Federal Court at noon today for arraignment on narco-terrorism charges, but the photos tell a completely different story than the one Trump is selling. Images show Maduro giving a double thumbs up to DEA agents, smiling and joking during what was supposed to be a high-stakes military capture. Zev called it exactly what it was: “This is not a guy who’s just being captured out of his dictatorship. This is a guy who’s coming on a little trip, a little show and tell, stagecrafted by the White House from Caracas all the way to New York.” He emphasized that “this is not a man who is in distress” but rather someone heading to “a global vacation for the rest of his life somewhere.” The show highlighted Lev Parnas’s revelations about a nearly identical deal attempted in 2017, when Trump donors and oil executives toured Venezuelan oil fields planning how to divide the spoils. Paul Singer’s Elliott Management won the CITGO auction in November 2025 with a $5.9 billion bid, and seventeen days after Trump took office, the military operation removed the only government that could block the sale. Neither Maduro nor his wife Cilia Flores are seeking bail, and their next court date is March 17.4️⃣ Denmark in Full Crisis Mode as Trump Threatens Greenland AnnexationDenmark is in “full crisis mode” after President Trump doubled down on threats to seize Greenland, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urging Trump to “stop the threats against a historically close ally.” Trump adviser Katie Miller posted an image of Greenland covered with an American flag captioned “SOON” just hours after the Venezuela operation, signaling that military force to seize resource-rich territories is now official U.S. policy. As Dean previewed on today’s show, he’s bringing on Malcolm Nance and former Danish intelligence officer Jacob Carsbo at 6 PM to discuss the crisis, noting that “Denmark’s going through it and Greenland might too.” Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland in December, and Landry has publicly endorsed annexation. Frederiksen emphasized that “the Kingdom of Denmark is part of NATO and is therefore covered by the alliance’s security guarantee,” but Venezuela proved Trump will use the U.S. military to seize territories his donors need. One analyst told multiple outlets that “a possible U.S. intervention in Greenland is now the biggest source of risk to the transatlantic alliance, arguably far greater than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”3️⃣ Zelensky Hires Canada’s Chrystia FreelandUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as his economic development adviser this morning in Presidential Decree No. 15/2026, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney flies to Paris tomorrow to participate in multilateral negotiations on ending the warUPDATE: Freeland has since resigned from her role as Member of Parliament representing University-Rosedale in Toronto, allowing her to work directly for the Ukrainian government while Canada's Prime Minister negotiates the terms of peace. Zev praised Dean's coverage of the story, noting that "your coverage of Canada's involvement in this new geopolitical world is so fascinating." Dean's analysis shows that Ukraine has made its position explicit: any ceasefire or peace agreement that does not include Western troops physically present in Ukraine is a fantasy. Canada already leads multinational battlegroups in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE as a NATO framework nation, 2️⃣ Elon Musk Back at Mar-a-Lago After Venezuela Profits EmergeElon Musk posted a photo from Saturday night’s dinner at Mar-a-Lago showing him seated with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, writing “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS. 2026 is going to be amazing!” The reconciliation comes as both men are positioned to make billions from the Venezuela operation. Musk’s SpaceX subsidiary Starlink announced it will provide free broadband internet service to Venezuela through February 3, positioning Musk to control Venezuela’s communication infrastructure at the exact moment the U.S. claims it will “run the country” during a transition period. The bromance is back after months of public feuding over congressional spending, and the timing reveals why. SpaceX’s IPO is coming later this year, expected to be the biggest in history with a $1.5 trillion valuation, and Venezuela’s oil revenue and reconstruction contracts could juice those numbers even higher. The Mar-a-Lago dinner wasn’t about friendship—it was about aligning business interests around regime change for profit.1️⃣ FBI Jan 6 Coverup May Be Bigger Than EpsteinAn NPR investigation reveals the Trump administration is systematically destroying evidence of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in what legal experts say is likely a violation of federal law. The Justice Department deleted its entire public database of 1,500-plus January 6 prosecutions, the FBI took offline its “Most Wanted” site showing Capitol rioters who remain at large, and evidence is disappearing from court exhibit sites. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman was forced to preserve the prosecution database in a court ruling after DOJ deleted it, writing that Trump’s proclamation calling the prosecutions a “national injustice” is “factually incorrect.” As Dean emphasized in closing the show, the goal remains singular: “We’ve got one job to do, and that’s to beat Donald Trump in America.” Zev urged viewers to commit to one action every single day, noting that “if everybody does it, all that energy multiplies and multiplies and multiplies, and it ultimately means success.”The pattern is clear: staged military operations enable donor profits, NATO allies face credible threats using the same playbook, inner circle members reconcile around shared profits from territorial seizures, and evidence of the last attempted coup gets systematically destroyed while participants walk free. As Zev warned, America is losing the moral high ground with every barbarian plunder, and time is running out to successfully eliminate Trump’s presidency before the damage becomes irreversible.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Ellie Leonard, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Cathy R. Payne, Soso's World, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

The Wall Street Journal just documented what we’ve been reporting for years. Trump trafficked young girls from Mar-a-Lago’s spa to Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion. Trump didn’t “steal Epstein’s girls”—he supplied them.That’s not the only bombshell today.5️⃣ RIP CBS EVENING NEWSTony Dokoupil debuts as CBS Evening News anchor on Monday in what the network is calling a mission to “win back trust.” CBS has been stuck in third place for years, hemorrhaging viewers to streaming platforms and social media. Dean noted the promotional video released January 1 looked “desperate as f**k”—showing anchor attempts at forced intimacy with viewers who’ve already moved on. The network tapped Dokoupil after his controversial exit from CBS Mornings following his aggressive interview of author Ta-Nehisi Coates about Israel-Palestine. Zev pointed out the timing: “They’re trying to rebrand the same week Trump takes office. Good luck with that.” CBS’s ratings crisis isn’t about anchors—it’s about trust. And you don’t rebuild trust by cycling through personalities while avoiding the stories that matter.4️⃣ 20 MILLION LOSE HEALTHCARE YESTERDAYOver 20 million Americans lost healthcare coverage yesterday when enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired. Congress recessed without extending them. The Trump administration made no effort to preserve them. Dean called it “designed to price out Black families as unemployment rises”—noting that enhanced subsidies disproportionately benefited communities of color who were already struggling with medical debt. Zev added the pattern: “They’re not trying to fix healthcare. They’re engineering a cliff so when people fall off, they can blame Biden.” Premiums for marketplace plans will spike by an average of $800 per family. For millions, that’s the difference between having insurance and going without. This isn’t an accident—it’s the plan.3️⃣ JACK SMITH: TRUMP WAS “MOST CULPABLE”House Republicans released Jack Smith’s testimony from June on December 31—300 pages they hoped would discredit his investigation. Instead, it confirmed everything. Smith told Congress that Donald Trump was “the most responsible person in the conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 election. Dean noted the significance: “This is under oath. In writing. From a special counsel who had to close his case because Trump won.” Smith defended his decision to obtain Republican senators’ phone records—timestamps only, no content—as essential to proving Trump’s pressure campaign on Mike Pence. He cited Pence as “one of the most cooperative witnesses” in the investigation. The GOP wanted ammunition. They got a roadmap for prosecution. Zev’s assessment: “They just created the evidence file for the next administration.”2️⃣ TRUMP’S BAG MAN SEIZES COMPANY THAT BID $10B FOR VENEZUELAN OILDevin Nunes and Trump Media executives took control of Blue Water Acquisition Corp III in November 2025—weeks after the company bid $10 billion for CITGO, Venezuela’s state-owned oil giant. Investigative journalist Wendy Siegelman broke the story, and the timeline is damning. November: Nunes takes over Blue Water. December: Trump bombs Venezuela, killing dozens, under the cover of “narco-terrorism.” January 2: Nicolás Maduro offers to sell Venezuelan oil to U.S. investors. Dean connected the dots: “They’re not fighting terrorism. They’re stealing oil.” Zev added context: “Nunes isn’t just Trump Media CEO—he’s a former House Intelligence Committee chairman with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He’s Trump’s bag man.” The Venezuela war isn’t about drugs. It’s about seizing $10 billion in petroleum assets. And Nunes got positioned before the bombing started.1️⃣ WSJ EXPOSES MAR-A-LAGO TRAFFICKING PIPELINEThe Wall Street Journal documented an operational trafficking system: Mar-a-Lago’s spa sent employees for “house calls” to Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion for years. Epstein wasn’t a Mar-a-Lago member, but Donald Trump personally ordered staff to treat him like one. The spa account was booked by Ghislaine Maxwell. Employees say Epstein was known for sexually assaulting workers. In 2003, an 18-year-old beautician reported that Epstein pressured her for sex during a “house call.” Her manager faxed Trump. Trump called it a “good letter” and banned Epstein from the spa—but not the club. The incident was never reported to police. Dean’s reaction: “This proves Trump’s ‘I barely knew him’ lie. These women were sent by Trump’s business, under Trump’s authority, to Epstein’s house.” Zev noted the pattern: “Virginia Giuffre described this exact pipeline. The Wall Street Journal just confirmed it existed.” Trump didn’t “steal Epstein’s girls.” He supplied them.THE THREADRIP CBS News. Twenty million Americans lose healthcare by design. Jack Smith’s testimony confirms Trump’s coup attempt. Trump’s CEO positions himself to steal Venezuelan oil. And the Wall Street Journal exposes Trump’s trafficking pipeline to Epstein.These aren’t five separate stories. They’re one story: a criminal syndicate has sieved America - and their priming is only just beginning.The FiveStack is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Thank you Ellie Leonard, Nick Paro, Story Carrier, Robin Payes, Kevin McKinney, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

We showed up on Substack in March 2025—bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, checking out this platform thing. Zev mentioned to Dean: “Let’s do a daily show where we countdown the biggest stories of the day.”Within three weeks, we had built something nobody expected.Dean connected with Lev Parnas. Michael Cohen showed up. A Danish intelligence officer texted: “Hey, want to do a show?” Wajahat Ali of the Left Hook shared their platform with us. Katie Couric watched. Olga Lautman’s Tyranny Tracker became a show. Steve Schmidt and Save America linked up. Creators like Nick Paro introduced us to Ellie Leonard, Shane Yirak, Melissa Corrigan.And most importantly we meet you—the viewers, subscribers, paid subscribers. Your passion saved our democracy, breathed life into what we were doing, helped us grow every day since.This wasn’t networking. This was necessity.You’ll have to watch the entire show to grasp everything we’re thinking about for 2026, and Lev Parnas’ photo gallery, but here are some choice quotes about where we are, and where we’re going.THE YEAR THAT WAS“2025 was, for what we do, the most fucked up year of my life without question.” — Dean Blundell“This is the first time we’re seeing pure authoritarianism, dictatorship that really has taken control of the United States of America.” — Lev Parnas“And just to put it in context, it’s only just the first year of four.” — Zev Shalev“2026 will be even more fucked up.” — Jacob KaarsboWHAT WE LEARNEDJacob (Copenhagen): The war in Ukraine continues. The only variable: how much political willingness democracies can muster. Jacob doesn’t put the U.S. in that bracket anymore. Putin fabricated an attack on his residence to derail peace talks. Trump believed it. Then admitted maybe it didn’t happen. “Putin and the Russians are going to grind on, regardless of the trouble they’re in.”Lev (Who Went to Prison for Telling the Truth): “I forgot we had a guy in solitary confinement,” Dean said. We did. Lev Parnas spent time in prison because he testified against Trump. Now he’s here, every day, reminding us what courage actually costs. “Something that’s going to be talked about in history 100 years from now.”Zev (The Producer Who Sees the Pattern): “My hope is to make this into a 24-7 news channel where we continually give people exactly what’s going on in real time. Because state media, which is really what’s happened to American corporate media, is now run by the state. The future is going to be an information war. It’s about who wins the hearts and minds of Americans and the world.”Dean (Canada): “Just a few guys with a space and a little platform, coming together and finding all of you. Not just sharing content, but saying ‘I didn’t know that, thank you, I don’t feel so alone.’”OUR 2026 COMMITMENTSLev: “I will be that voice for those kids abducted by the Russians. We will use our voices to make sure the Epstein survivors get their justice.”Zev: “We keep these voices, amplify these voices, grow more voices, and make sure it gets into as many American minds and ears and eyes as we can.”Dean: “My goal is to unite people against fascism. Unite people under real values—democratic values, empathy, love, kindness, courage, wisdom, justice. We build something that cannot be taken away from you, cannot be taken away from democracy.”Jacob: [Standing watch in Copenhagen, knowing what comes next.]We’re not going anywhere. We’re doing this for at least the next three years. Maybe longer. “What if he gets out of the term? There’s other a******s out there.”We see you. You see us. Together, we build what cannot be taken.Welcome to 2026. The war for hearts and minds has begun.The Fivestack airs live Monday-Friday at 3 PM ET. Join us.The Fivestack airs live Monday-Friday at 3 PM ET on Substack. Join Dean Blundell, Zev Shalev, Lev Parnas, and Jacob Kaarsbo as they connect Canada, America, Ukraine, and Europe in real-time analysis you won’t find anywhere else.Thank you Ellie Leonard, Shane Yirak, Cash Flow Collective, Cheech Previti, Cat, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell, Lev Parnas, and Jacob Kaarsbo! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Dean was unavailable, so instead of The FiveStack, I brought together Lev Parnas and Ellie Leonard for a special report. We covered the five biggest stories of the day—and they all connect to the same pattern.5. LEV PARNAS AND MEIDAS TOUCH PATCH THINGS UPLev interviewed Ben Meiselas from Meidas Touch yesterday, focusing on unity and democracy—not infighting or drama. This is what the mission should be: keeping everyone’s attention on exposing Trump’s criminal network, not settling scores or creating divisions. Lev’s commitment to the mission, his integrity, his willingness to do uncomfortable work to hold people accountable—this is what authentic looks like. Subscribe to Lev Remembers—he’s #1 in World Politics on Substack for a reason.4. LEV’S INTERVIEW WITH EPSTEIN SURVIVORS’ ATTORNEYThis morning, Lev interviewed Arik Preis from the Bloom Firm representing Epstein survivors. His wife hugged him after—you could hear how much it affected him. What stuck with Lev most was the extreme pain these women are still enduring right now, today. Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with a December 19 deadline. We’re 10 days past that with zero new documents since DOJ’s Christmas Eve announcement they “discovered” 1 million+ files—the same playbook used to delay JFK files. Twelve bipartisan Senators demand Inspector General audit. Rep. Garcia accuses White House of “cover-up protecting Epstein’s co-conspirators.” But this isn’t just delay—it’s deliberate re-victimization of survivors who’ve waited since 1996 for justice. Trump sending Todd Blanche to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell is salt on the wound. Ellie Leonard quit her job to investigate this full-time—subscribe to The Panicked Writer, #7 in US Politics and rising.3. VENEZUELA: TRUMP CLAIMS LAND STRIKETrump told WABC radio the US “knocked out” a Venezuelan facility December 25. Military officials say they have no information. CIA declined comment. White House declined comment. Venezuela reported no attack. If true, this would be the first US land strike in Venezuela—crossing from naval blockade (30 boats destroyed, 105 killed) to sovereign territory strikes. Either it happened without Pentagon knowledge, is covert, or Trump is manufacturing pressure. Either way, it tests whether land strikes become normalized alongside blockades.2. NETANYAHU AT MAR-A-LAGO TODAYTrump hosted Netanyahu at 1pm pushing Palestinian governance by January. But Netanyahu approved 19 new West Bank settlements two weeks ago—bringing total to 210, up 50% since 2022—while Phase 2 requires “pathway to Palestinian state.” White House officials “exasperated” with stalling. Netanyahu pushed Iran strikes instead of governance. If Gaza Phase 2 fails, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago peace framework loses credibility for Ukraine negotiations. Every deal teaches the same lesson: delay, take ground, negotiate from strength.1. CHINA LAUNCHES LARGEST TAIWAN BLOCKADE DRILLS EVERChina launched “Just Mission 2025” this morning with live firing around Taiwan—largest zone ever. Tomorrow brings simulated port blockades and complete encirclement. Triggered by U.S. approving $11.1 billion Taiwan arms package. Xi told Trump Taiwan’s “return to China” is central. Here’s the connection: If Trump’s Ukraine deal accepts Russia keeping seized territory, Beijing is demonstrating what that precedent means. The autocratic world is watching Mar-a-Lago for signals that force works.THE PATTERNWhat made today special was bringing together three independent journalists—Lev, Ellie, and myself—to connect our separate investigations. Lev brings insider knowledge of the Russia-Trump nexus. Ellie is building the financial crimes and JP Morgan connections. I’m connecting it to intelligence operations and The Greatest Heist. We’re forming a partnership to connect the dots—Lev’s emails, Ellie’s documents, my financial crime work. Because all of these autocrats, all of these networks—they’re connected. The Epstein network isn’t separate from Russia’s operation or Trump’s enterprise. It’s all the same network.Trump’s Mar-a-Lago teaches autocrats that force works. Netanyahu expands settlements while negotiating. Russia takes territory during peace talks. China demonstrates blockades. The US claims Venezuela strikes. And the Epstein files disappear while survivors suffer.THE COMMUNITYLev is #1 in World Politics at Lev Remembers. Ellie is #7 in Politics at The Panicked Writer. NARATIV.org is #7 in News. Subscribe to all three. Free subscriptions help algorithms. Paid subscriptions support the work. Either way, this information needs to spread.Thanks to Lev Parnas and Ellie Leonard. Dean, we missed you. Thank you Nick Paro, Cash Flow Collective, Cheech Previti, Cat, Robin Payes, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lev Parnas and Ellie Leonard! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Danish intelligence analyst Jacob Kaarsbo joined us fresh from a South African safari to deliver a sobering assessment of Trump’s Greenland gambit: “The American ambassador gets called more to our foreign ministry than the Russian ambassador nowadays.”That sentence alone tells you where we are.Today’s FiveStack is presented by Ground News — Get 40% off for our viewers5️⃣ DENMARK SUMMONS U.S. ENVOY OVER GREENLANDTrump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland—a man who literally wrote a dissertation arguing America should take over the island. Denmark’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador today to ask what exactly this envoy plans to do.Jacob’s assessment was blunt: “It’s a page right out of Putin’s playbook. It’s the same b******t. It’s the same arguments you hear from the Kremlin.”When asked about the path forward, Jacob didn’t mince words: “The only way to avoid war and military escalation is by showing we’re not afraid of it. Deterrence. It’s the same way deterrence works against Putin.”Most Greenlanders have voted against joining the United States. They have no interest in becoming American. Yet Trump sends operatives anyway—the same playbook he’s running with Pete Hoekstra in Canada.4️⃣ WHITE HOUSE BUNKER: SECURITY ISSUES ACKNOWLEDGEDSpyTalk reported that the Trump administration has for the first time acknowledged “substantial security issues” related to the destruction of the East Wing—an apparent reference to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, the underground bunker built to protect the president from enemy attack.They demolished the entire East Wing for a $400 million “ballroom.” The bunker work is expected to be completed by the end of this month. A federal judge declined to halt construction despite a National Trust lawsuit, with the government arguing national security—arguments kept secret from the public.This isn’t just a ballroom. It’s a bomb-proofed data center with AI built in, designed to give the White House total control of government information flow. You don’t build a bomb-proofed data center unless you’re thinking it might be bombed.3️⃣ DOJ VIOLATES EPSTEIN LAW—NAMES HIDDENThe Department of Justice is now in federal violation. They missed Friday’s deadline to release all Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act—the law Trump reluctantly signed after House Democrats forced it through.What they did release was heavily redacted. At least 16 files disappeared from the DOJ website, including a photograph of Donald Trump found inside Epstein’s desk. After public uproar, they put it back.The cover-up is falling apart every second it continues. We know there are 297 gigabytes of evidence documents, hard drives, CDs, and videos involving at least 20 prominent men. We got three percent of what the law requires.Bill Clinton’s photos stayed up. Donald Trump’s came down. If there are “national security” reasons for hiding Trump, those same reasons would apply to a former president named Clinton. But they don’t apply it evenly because this isn’t about security. It’s a cover-up.Want a great deal on the news tool Dean and Zev use?Subscribe to Ground NewsWe partnered with Ground News because their mission matches ours—help people see the full picture. They aggregate thousands of stories daily and show you how each outlet covers them: political lean, ownership, factuality. So when a story disappears from one side of the media landscape, you’ll know. Ground News doesn’t tell you what to think. They show you who’s funding the narrative so you can decide for yourself.Get 40% off the Vantage Plan →2️⃣ CBS KILLS TORTURE EXPOSÉ BEFORE AIRCBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a fully vetted 60 Minutes segment on torture at El Salvador’s CECOT prison—where Trump is deporting Venezuelan immigrants—just three hours before Sunday’s broadcast.The segment had been screened five times. Cleared by CBS attorneys. Cleared by Standards and Practices. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called it “corporate censorship” and “a political decision, not an editorial one.”Human Rights Watch has documented systematic torture at CECOT, describing it as “hell.” But Americans won’t see that on 60 Minutes.Paramount’s new owner David Ellison is seeking Trump’s approval to acquire CNN. The same Ellison family building the underground data fortress beneath the White House. Connect those dots.1️⃣ VENEZUELA BLOCKADE—THIRD TANKER PURSUEDThe U.S. Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker right now—the third vessel targeted in less than two weeks as Trump’s total blockade intensifies.Saturday’s seizure of the Centuries—a Panama-flagged tanker carrying 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude—wasn’t even on any U.S. sanctions list.Senator Rand Paul, perhaps the most conservative voice in the Senate, called the seizure “a provocation and a prelude to war.”This is American piracy. They’re boarding tankers, claiming oil belongs to America, and daring Venezuela to react. The moment Venezuela responds, Trump gets his pretext.THE THREADDenmark. The bunker. The Epstein cover-up. CBS censorship. Venezuela.These aren’t five separate stories. They’re one story: an administration preparing for war while consolidating control of information, burying evidence, and silencing journalists who might tell you about it.Jacob Kaarsbo spent 15 years in Danish intelligence. He’s not easily alarmed. Today he told us the U.S. is no longer an ally—it’s a threat.Welcome to the pre-war.How to Redeem your Ground News Offer: Go To GroundNews.cm/FiveStack and Get 40% off the Vantage Plan →Thank you Nick Paro, Northern Variables, Cat, Cheech Previti, Robin Payes, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ House Democrats Drop 68 Epstein Photos One Day Before DOJ DeadlineHouse Oversight Democrats released 68 new photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate one day before the Friday December 19 deadline for the Justice Department to release Epstein files. The photos come from a trove of 95,000 images the committee received last week, and the timing is deliberate—Garcia wants these in public view before Pam Bondi decides what to release tomorrow. Among the images: dozens of passports from women in Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. “Epstein used passports as a threat all the time,” Ellie Leonard explained on today’s show. “He would take away their passports—these were girls from all over the world. Girls who tried to escape the island by swimming away, he would detain them and restrain them, and the threat was always the passports.” The passports reflect information about transfers of large amounts of money through JP Morgan that Senator Wyden has released, showing financial connections between these countries. Epstein would bring passports into JP Morgan Chase and open bank accounts in victims’ names without them present, with no birth dates or social security numbers required. “He’d go find a buddy and say here’s somebody new, can you write up an account for them? Here’s their passport,” Leonard noted. The photos also show quotes from Lolita inscribed on a woman’s body, Steve Bannon with Epstein, and other disturbing evidence.4️⃣ Trump’s 19-Minute Speech Was All LiesDonald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night in what was supposed to be a Christmas message but turned into 19 minutes of economic lies. “That man just lied for 19 minutes and it was all the greatest mega hits too,” Dean said. Trump claimed he inherited a mess when he actually inherited 3.5% unemployment and 2.4% inflation. He promised an economic boom while 22 states are currently in recession. He said grocery costs are down significantly when grocery prices are up 30% since January 2020. He claimed turkey prices are down when wholesale turkey prices are actually up from 2024. The speech was such a disaster that insider reporting revealed Trump turned to his team afterward asking “how was it?” Susie Wiles said “great job, sir,” and Trump responded “I didn’t want to do that. Susie made me do it.” The speech showed over-the-top Christmas decorations but no actual Christmas theme. It seems Republicans are readying themselves to jettison Trump as the economic data contradicts every claim he makes.3️⃣ Four Republicans Break Ranks, Force ACA VoteFour House Republicans signed the Democratic discharge petition Wednesday, giving Hakeem Jeffries the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania signed first, followed by Lawler of New York, then Bresnahan and Mackenzie of Pennsylvania. This is the third successful discharge petition against Mike Johnson this year, following the Epstein files release and proxy voting. Twenty-two million Americans face doubled health insurance premiums starting December 31—just 13 days away. When reporters asked Johnson if he’d lost control of the House, he insisted “I have not lost control of the House”—exactly what speakers say when they’ve lost control. The vote won’t occur until January due to House rules requiring a seven-day waiting period, but the pressure on the Senate is mounting. Johnson blocked the vote despite pleas from swing-district Republicans who are watching their constituents face financial devastation.2️⃣ America Nearing 2,000 Measles Cases, Losing Elimination StatusThe United States confirmed 1,958 measles cases as of December 16, the highest annual total in over 30 years and approaching the 1992 record of 2,216 cases. America now faces losing its measles elimination status by the January 2026 deadline after holding it for 25 years. “Measles are so back bro,” Dean said. “People are having measles parties.” There have been 49 measles outbreaks in 2025 compared to just 16 in 2024. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly connected to the crisis—he started measles outbreaks about seven or eight years ago in American Samoa. “The story about what he did to American Samoans so that he could get data and come back to the United States and tell everybody not to get vaccinated for measles and the chicken pox is absolutely one of the most incredible stories you’ll ever hear,” Dean explained. The national vaccination rate has dropped to 92.5%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. Canada has already lost its measles elimination status. Trump’s acting CDC director is now suggesting breaking up the MMR shot despite zero scientific evidence supporting this dangerous recommendation.1️⃣ 22 States Already in Recession Before Tariffs HitMark Zandi at Moody’s Analytics calculates 22 states are in recession right now, today, before Trump’s China tariffs deliver their full impact. That’s up from just three states showing negative growth in the previous quarter. Eleven states are seeing jobs actually fall. Deloitte projects a recession beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026 and lasting into 2027, with unemployment hitting 5%. “Beef is up seven times. Chicken’s up four times. Fish is up nine times in certain states,” Zev explained. “You have 22 states in the United States of America that are in a deep recession right now. And Chinese tariffs hasn’t even hit. The economy in the United States is not just dying. It is dead.” Consumer sentiment sits at 51, down 29% from one year ago. Seventy-five percent of Americans report their income isn’t keeping pace with inflation. The recession is spreading at an accelerating pace—from three states to 22 states in a single quarter—and the timeline means economic collapse will hit precisely before the November 2026 midterm elections. While Trump delivers prime time speeches claiming economic rescue, nearly half the country is already drowning.Tomorrow the Justice Department faces its deadline to release the Epstein files Trump signed into law.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you This Will Hold, Nick Paro, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Fran, Leah Anderson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell and Ellie Leonard! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ White House Exodus BeginsThe FBI Deputy Director’s office sits empty as Dan Bongino clears out ahead of his January departure, while Trump’s own Chief of Staff spent months telling Vanity Fair he has an alcoholic’s personality and his cabinet is filled with zealots and conspiracy theorists. Bongino clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein files and yelled at people during meetings, while FBI agents openly count down the days until he’s gone. The MAGA exodus is beginning. Bongino knows what’s in the Epstein files and he knows that if he hangs around much longer, he will never work again, never make money again, never be taken seriously again. Susie Wiles sat for 11 hours with Vanity Fair over 20 hours across different visits, all recorded, plotting her exit and effectively telling Trump in the press: I got all the dirt, I know where all the bodies are. The rats are fleeing the ship.4️⃣ Applebaum: Trump’s National Security Strategy is a Suicide NoteAnne Applebaum’s devastating analysis calls Trump’s National Security Strategy a suicide note that refuses to name Russia, China, or Iran as threats while identifying one enemy: European liberal democracy itself. The document aims to help illiberal forces in Hungary, Poland, Italy, and Austria break up the EU, using language about Europe’s civilizational erasure that former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt says is to the right of the extreme right. Trump dismantled the Global Engagement Center, ending cooperation with 24 countries against Russian and Chinese influence campaigns in what amounts to unilateral disarmament. The administration’s information now comes from conspiracist websites and random X accounts as America abandons allies and targets democracies while ignoring actual adversaries.3️⃣ Britain and Canada Mobilize as War Drums BeatBritain just launched Military Intelligence Services, consolidating all defense intelligence under one organization for the first time in UK history, as Canada mobilizes 300,000 civilians in the biggest force buildup since World War II. Canada isn’t just expanding its military, it’s pivoting completely toward Europe: joining EU defense programs, building Gripen fighters domestically, constructing an Arctic satellite shield, and signing major defense pacts with Sweden and Germany. The era of relying on America is over. Canada refuses to be caught sleeping by Russia, by chaos, and definitely not by a Trump Administration that sees us as strategic terrain. When your closest allies stop trusting your protection and start building their own defense infrastructure at wartime scale, that’s the signal—the world is realigning away from America.2️⃣ ISIS Strikes on Two Continents Same DayISIS struck on two continents on the same day, killing 2 US soldiers in Syria and massacring 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, showing coordinated resurgence while Trump partners with former terrorists. The Syria attack came from inside: a Syrian Internal Security Forces member killed Americans in a green-on-blue attack after officials warned the US coalition about ISIS threats that were ignored. Hours later in Sydney, a father-son team with ISIS flags in their car and an improvised explosive device killed a 10-year-old girl and Holocaust survivor at Bondi Beach in Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades. The son had been investigated by Australian intelligence in 2019 for ISIS cell connections and recently returned from the Philippines’ ISIS stronghold, yet his father—who had six licensed firearms—faced no scrutiny before they targeted Jews celebrating Hanukkah.1️⃣ Trump’s Delusional Address TonightTrump addresses the nation tonight at 9 PM to celebrate a great year that exists only in his head—approval at 39%, economic approval at 33%, 70% saying the economy is poor—while four House Republicans broke ranks to defy Speaker Johnson on healthcare and a Kentucky Democrat just won by 47 points. Johnson’s authority collapsed as Republicans signed the Democratic discharge petition that’s now three signatures from forcing a vote on ACA subsidies, with 22 million Americans facing premiums that double January 1. He just knows he’s going to give an address and try and convince you things aren’t as bad as they are. Things are far much worse than you think. The king of delusion celebrates his imaginary kingdom tonight as the real one burns and his own Chief of Staff admits that retribution is the one priority.The United States of America is going through some things right now.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Ellie Leonard, Nick Paro, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Cat, PegsReilledUp, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ Wiles Tells All: Trump’s “Alcoholic Personality”Trump’s chief of staff gave 11 on-the-record interviews to Vanity Fair and New York Times reporter Chris Whipple over the past year, revealing unprecedented details about the administration’s inner chaos. Susie Wiles told Whipple that Trump has “an alcoholic’s personality,” called JD Vance “a conspiracy theorist for a decade” whose conversion was “sort of political,” and described OMB Director Vought as “a right-wing absolute zealot.” On Elon Musk, who she said sleeps in a sleeping bag in the Executive Office Building, Wiles described him as “a complete solo actor” and “an avowed ketamine user.” When asked about Musk’s tweet claiming to report to Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, she said “I think that’s when he’s microdosing.” The interviews, all recorded, also revealed that Wiles admitted the Letitia James prosecution is retribution, said Trump wants to “keep blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle” in Venezuela, and that she was outvoted on the January 6 pardons. When Wiles attempted to walk back the remarks, Whipple began releasing audio clips confirming every quote.4️⃣ Hegseth Hides War Crime VideoThe Pentagon is refusing to release the unedited video of a September 2 boat strike that killed two survivors who had climbed onto wreckage and waved for help. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to order a second strike against the boat, which was allegedly carrying cocaine in the Caribbean, after two survivors were visible on the debris. John Yoo, who wrote the Bush administration’s torture memos, stated bluntly: “If it’s not a war against Venezuela, then you’re shooting civilians. There’s no military purpose for it.” Last night, the U.S. military attacked three more boats in the eastern Pacific, killing eight additional people, all without congressional authorization or a declaration of war. The Pentagon has never conducted a damage assessment on Hegseth’s Signal app security leaks, but Hegseth has threatened to polygraph his own staff to identify who leaked information about his misconduct. A Pentagon spokesperson said “of course we’re not going to release a top secret, full, unedited video of that to the general public.”3️⃣ Trump Celebrates Critic’s MurderAt yesterday’s White House press conference, President Trump doubled down on his Truth Social post celebrating the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. Trump rambled about how “Reiner never liked Trump” and declared him “very bad for the country,” implying that political opposition deserves consequences. The same press conference featured Trump repeating lies from convicted election criminal Tina Peters, claiming Venezuelan gangs have “overrun” Colorado, and inventing drug trafficking statistics. Trump also threatened a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC and claimed credit for a Thailand-Cambodia peace deal that doesn’t exist. Multiple reporters noted that Trump “appeared confused, physically unsteady, and struggled to exit the Oval Office after appearing to get lost behind his desk.”2️⃣ Pulitzer Lawsuit Demands Tax and Psych RecordsTrump’s 2022 lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize Board has backfired spectacularly in discovery. The lawsuit, which claimed defamation over Russia investigation reporting awards, has triggered discovery demands that Trump must comply with within 30 days: all tax returns from 2015 to present, all sources of income, all financial holdings and liabilities, complete health records, psychological records, and his entire prescription medication history. Legal experts note that when a plaintiff claims emotional harm, their emotional condition becomes discoverable, and when claiming reputational harm, they must prove their baseline reputation. Trump has never won a jury verdict in a libel case and recently settled with CBS for $16 million and ABC for $15 million specifically to avoid discovery. A Pulitzer Board spokesperson stated: “Just like any other plaintiff, the President must articulate and prove his claims with evidence.” Unlike the settlements, Trump cannot escape this discovery process.1️⃣ Epstein Files Drop FridayThe DOJ deadline to release comprehensive Epstein documentation is three days away. In her Vanity Fair interviews, Wiles told Chris Whipple that Trump is “not in the file doing anything awful” and criticized Attorney General Bondi for “completely whiffing” the Epstein investigation, saying Bondi gave people “binders full of nothingness.” Wiles admitted she “hadn’t really paid attention to whether all these rich, important men went to that nasty island and did unforgivable things to young girls.” Trump initially objected to the release before ultimately signing the legislation. The chief of staff has now tied her credibility directly to what appears in the files when they’re released Friday. Even if the files contain no direct wrongdoing by Trump, they will document his decades-long friendship with Epstein and what he knew about the systematic abuse of minors.The chief of staff confessed to retribution on tape, the defense secretary is hiding war crime evidence, the president celebrated murder, his lawsuit exposed everything, and the Epstein files drop in 72 hours.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Lev Parnas, Ellie Leonard, Nick Paro, Cash Flow Collective, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

5️⃣ Trump’s Gleeful Post About Rob Reiner Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home yesterday. Their 32-year-old son Nick, who struggled with addiction, has been arrested. Billy Crystal and Larry David arrived at the house after police. Tributes poured in from Obama, Kathy Bates, Steve Schmidt. Then Trump posted on Truth Social that Reiner died from “Trump Derangement Syndrome”—gleefully mocking a murder victim at Christmas. Compare that to how Reiner responded to Charlie Kirk’s murder: “Horror. Absolute horror. That should never happen to anybody.” That’s the difference between these two men. One is human. One is not.4️⃣ Bondi Beach Massacre: The Hero They Won’t Talk AboutA father and son opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 16 people—Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996. A 10-year-old girl. A rabbi. Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman who died shielding his wife. But here’s who nobody’s talking about: Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim fruit shop owner, got shot twice, tackled one gunman, beat the s**t out of him, held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Netanyahu isn’t saying a word about that. He’s too busy blaming the Australian PM—the same playbook every time: weaponize tragedy against groups you want to hurt.3️⃣ The Death of NATOAfter four years of war, Ukraine is giving up on NATO membership. Zelensky announced in Berlin—ahead of talks with Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner—that Ukraine will accept “security guarantees” instead of Article 5 protection. This was Putin’s number one demand before and during the invasion. Russia is defeating NATO without firing a single shot against NATO forces. European leaders are saying it: the end of Pax Americana. America led the world for 80 years. Trump wrecked it in 11 months.2️⃣ 22 Million Americans About to Lose HealthcareTwenty-two million Americans will see health insurance premiums double when ACA subsidies expire December 31st. Today is enrollment deadline—people signing up without knowing what they’ll owe. Congress deadlocked. Average enrollees pay $1,016 more per year. Four million lose coverage entirely. 712,000 medical bankruptcies last year. Wait until these cuts hit red states. Meanwhile, Trump’s handling of the Epstein files is the number one issue causing him to lose support among his own MAGA base.1️⃣ Kash Patel Screws Up Another ManhuntBrown University shooter still at large, day three. Two students dead, nine wounded. FBI Director Kash Patel prematurely touted capturing a suspect—released without charges hours later. Same thing he did with Charlie Kirk. Within 20 minutes of the shooting, Patel starts tweeting. Hour later: “We got him.” Within 40 minutes, Providence police: “It’s not our guy.” Patel: “Charge him anyway.” That’s not how it works, Kash. Meanwhile the actual shooter walks free.The President of the United States is a pedophile rapist money launderer for the Russian mob, and his Epstein-imported hooker wife is reading kids’ books at the White House—badly. That is the state of America today.The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Nick Paro, Shane Yirak, Cash Flow Collective, DW Phillips, Cat, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell and Lev Parnas! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

The House Oversight Committee dropped 95,000 photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s vault today. Ninety-five thousand images from the convicted sex trafficker’s personal collection. And in those photos, there’s Donald Trump—on Epstein’s plane, surrounded by young women in private settings.And they prove he lied about all of it.Trump claimed he was never on that plane. Here’s photographic evidence he was.The photos show Trump disheveled, tie undone, clearly comfortable in Epstein’s world. Trump on the plane. Trump in Epstein’s private spaces.Every single one of these photographs came from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. He kept them. He archived them. He maintained this evidence for a reason.What The Photos Actually ProveTrump on Epstein’s plane - despite claiming he never flew on it.Trump clearly comfortable in Epstein’s world - not the casual acquaintance he claimed.These aren’t paparazzi shots. These aren’t public event photos. These came from Epstein’s personal vault. He kept them. He archived them. And now we know why—leverage.Michael Wolff Saw The Other PhotosWe know there are worse photos. Michael Wolff was shown photographs of Trump at a pool, surrounded by very young women. Wolff described visible stains on Trump’s pants. He told Langdon Thomas of the New York Times about these photos, even suggested the Times should publish them, then backed away from that offer.Those photos are still out there. Still in someone’s possession. Still potential evidence of what actually happened in Epstein’s network.What We Know From The ArchiveThe photos released today connect to evidence that’s been hiding in plain sight in the Epstein archive. rTrump partied with Epstein for years. Trump said Epstein “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Trump recruited women from Mar-a-Lago for Epstein’s operation—Virginia Giuffre was working there as a towel girl when she was recruited at 15.Trump claimed he barely knew Epstein. The photos prove that was a lie.Trump claimed he was never on Epstein’s plane. The photos prove that was a lie.Every denial, demolished by photographic evidence Epstein himself preserved.Why This Matters NowThese photos prove he maintained a close relationship with a convicted sex trafficker and lied repeatedly about it. They prove he was comfortable in Epstein’s world—on his plane, in private settings with young women.The question isn’t whether Trump partied with Epstein—the photos prove he did. The question is what else happened that we’re not seeing in the photos they can actually release.Today’s OneStack featured investigative reporter Ellie Leonard Leonard discussing the significance of the photo release. Read her work at Ellie Leonard The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email next@narativ.org. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.Thank you Caro Henry, Cheech Previti, Kristen Lepionka, Noble Blend, Leah Anderson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe