Raw Story

Tech wives knew 'something terrible' was happening on Epstein's island: 'We need to leave'

Former wives of tech leaders have told a longtime journalist that they sensed something was off when they visited late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's island.

Technology journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher told a CNN panel on Wednesday that several people have come to her and shared their experiences about interactions with Epstein and concerns about what was happening at the time on Little Saint James, his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"And by the way, other - let me tell you, during that time, a lot of those tech people went, and the only people who ever said things to me were often the wives of those people — now the ex-wives," Swisher said.

"But I had someone say to me, a wife of a very prominent technologist, they had gone to the island. She landed, looked around and said, 'We need to leave here. Something terrible is going on here. Why are we here?' And the husband was like, 'Why? What's wrong?' Like that kind of thing," Swisher said.

'Relishing the opportunity': Chuck Todd suggests deeper strategy behind fight over migrant

The fight over Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia came down to "optics" for the Trump administration, Journalist Chuck Todd surmised Friday on CNN.

The only explanation for the administration's continued resistance to bring Abrego Garcia home from El Salvador, where he was mistakenly deported, is to give the MAGA base what they want to see, Todd said.

"Why, if they believe they have the law on their side, that they could deport [Abrego Garcia] somewhere else, that they've mistakenly done this — why are they so afraid of bringing him back, going into court and making their case?" Todd asked. "It's almost like they're relishing the opportunity to have this showdown."

Todd said it's a familiar pattern within the administration, "where, instead of doing something that you could do it under the umbrella of constitutional, whether we're talking about DOGE or something like this, it's almost like they're intentionally saying, 'No, let's have the showdown, because the fight is good politics for the base.' And it feels as if that's what all this is about, that if they have the optics right for the base, they don't care about the substance."

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Journalist Kara Swisher interjected, "It's an emphasis on show, right? Because it's playing for social media. It's playing for very quick, snackable bits. You can see how they're doing it. They want those pictures to come through — and then they coordinate with the president of El Salvador, who himself, is a showboat — essentially by saying, 'Oh, they're having margaritas at this hotel,' when, in fact, Kristi Noem has given us a lot of pictures of what that place looks like and her poses in font of those prisoners."

Swisher summed up, "It's about...winning the day versus the truth."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) returned from meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador Friday afternoon and claimed that the Salvadoran government set up the margaritas to manipulate the photo op.

Watch the video below via CNN.

'Proud' Harvard alumni cheer school for standing up to Trump

Notable Harvard alumni applauded their university Monday after news that the Ivy League school would not capitulate to the Trump administration's anti-DEI initiatives for $9 billion in federal funding.

Trump threatened to pull the $9 billion if Harvard did not do away with their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or crack down on student protests like the pro-Palestinian demonstrations against the continued retaliatory bombing of Gaza.

The university released a statement saying, "The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government."

Bill Kristol with The Washington Post wrote on social media, "Plenty of complaints about Harvard over the years, but a proud Harvard alum today."

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Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers posted, "Very glad to see President Garber leading Harvard and I hope all universities in resisting extralegal and unreasonable demands from the federal government."

"I’m particularly proud right now to be a graduate of Harvard College. Thank you, President Garber," posted attorney and anti-Trump conservative pundit George Conway.

Legal scholar Lawrence Tribe, who taught Constitutional Law at Harvard for 50 years, wrote, “If you’ve never given to Harvard, GIVE NOW!"

Others, whose resumes did not include a Harvard education, also had praise for the school.

The Brookings Institution fellow and The Atlantic writer Quinta Jurecic wrote, "infuriating that I must hand it to harvard," while technology reporter Kara Swisher wrote, "Finally Harvard lives up to its motto: Veritas."

Jeffrey A. Sachs, a professor at Canada's Acadia University, quipped, "I can’t believe I’m saying this but go Harvard."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) posted, "Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism. Other universities should follow their lead. And instead of doing pro bono work for Trump, cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law."

Last month, Columbia University was roundly criticized for surrendering to Trump's anti-DEI terms in order to keep $400 million in federal funding.

All posts tagged "kara swisher"

Tech wives knew 'something terrible' was happening on Epstein's island: 'We need to leave'

'Relishing the opportunity': Chuck Todd suggests deeper strategy behind fight over migrant

'Proud' Harvard alumni cheer school for standing up to Trump