--- title: "The Philosopher’s Stonewalling" date: "2026-04-05" newsletter: levernews esp: generic word_count: 958 has_sponsored_content: true rad_version: "1.1" --- # The Philosopher’s Stonewalling ![](https://email.ghost.levernews.com/o/eJw8jk2K7DAMBk_T3iXI8o_khQ4j2-p0eOkE0n4Z5vYDGZjVx0dRUF1aDjmYM_FEKRQkZmdvXbdp7ZJLx0RPAK-MHe6NJap7iVeolFvuXKCQVS4EnjsSF44xVbcKAmaIkDyGEvNMLaXatCnqMwWtjwjL6_iMebPLzt2-PnM73u6UduyXneMR4TTt9VsX28cvHFL_b_-mO9ANuf2_V7djmSgjILtL8CcAAP__kCdB9A) A remarkable Epstein exchange, an action-hero president, and more from The Lever this week. _Season two of_ Master Plan _is here. [Start listening](https://www.levernews.com/r/46070d35?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)._ ![](https://www.levernews.com/content/images/size/w1600/2025/04/LeverWeekly-HED-2025.png) **This is Lever Weekly**, a recap of our work from the past week. If you only read one email from us all week, this should be it. __The Lever_ holds the powerful accountable through reader-supported investigative journalism that corporate media will not undertake. [Join our mission](https://www.levernews.com/r/d6a66706?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc), and you’ll get great perks in return. [Join The Fight](https://www.levernews.com/r/9c28556c?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) [View article in browser](https://www.levernews.com/r/adadead1?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc). ### **Here’s what _The Lever_ published this week:** ### **_LEVER_ DEEP DIVE OF THE WEEK** [**The Philosopher And The Pedophile.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/c65a0442?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)Jeffrey Epstein’s associates insisted they were ignorant. An extraordinary email suggests a more complicated — and troubling — reality. **_LEVER_ SCOOPS OF THE WEEK** [**How ICE Could Buy Its Way Out Of State Oversight.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/aa5f3bed?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)Trump’s immigration enforcers are considering buying private detention centers — a move that could shield facilities from state oversight and lawsuits over abuse. [**How OpenAI Hacked The Military-Industrial Complex.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/a62a21d7?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)The company behind ChatGPT recruited Washington’s war insiders — then turned their connections into Pentagon contracts. [**The Clickbait Candidate Who Forgot To Vote.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/27c82805?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) Mallory McMorrow assumes voters will never look to see how — or whether — she actually used her influence. [**Inside Apollo’s Labor Problem.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/5a81f6a3?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) Workers say Apollo-owned firms spied on organizing efforts, fired union supporters, and targeted immigrant employees. [**Your Tax Return Got DOGE’d.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/b54e0c0d?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)The IRS is letting megacorporations fly under the radar while staffing cuts threaten to bury your tax season. [**The Quiet Fortune Of NYC’s Top Anti-Tax Democrat.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/66e93eea?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) A New York City lawmaker standing in the way of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposed wealth tax is exploiting a disclosure loophole to obscure her family’s multimillion-dollar fortune. [**Klarna Sued For Buy Now, Pay Later Racket.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/b898b836?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) The lending app is accused of targeting vulnerable borrowers with non-underwritten loans and predatory autopay. [**“Affordable” Care Gets Pricier Under Trump.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/e550267b?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) After Republicans sunsetted extended federal subsidies, Obamacare enrollees owe 57 percent more for their monthly premiums. **THIS WEEK ON _LEVER_ PODCASTS & EVENTS** [**THE KINGMAKERS, Ep. 3: President Rambo.**](https://www.levernews.com/r/5157a683?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)Before Trump’s war in Iran and invasion of Venezuela, there was Reagan’s Iran-Contra scheme. [**Why Congress Won't Stop Hijacking Air Travel**](https://www.levernews.com/r/f352a634?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)**.** America's aviation crisis didn't happen by accident. Bill McGee, one of the country's leading aviation watchdogs, explains who broke the system — and why nobody's fixed it. [**LIVE EVENT REPLAY: Pam Bondi Fired — Ro Khanna On The Ongoing Epstein Coverup.** ](https://www.levernews.com/r/ec193b49?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)David Sirota and Rep. Ro Khanna discuss Pam Bondi’s firing and why this story isn’t over. SPONSORED ****They made $93 million off stolen identities.** Last year, a U.S. fraud ring used other people’s personal data to file fake tax claims. If your name, phone, or address are for sale online, your identity can be used. [Incogni](https://www.levernews.com/r/eee0191f?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) removes your data from brokers and keeps it off the market — so criminals can’t weaponize it against you. Protect your identity before you file. [****Get 58% off with code LEVER**](https://www.levernews.com/r/60f17e2c?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)****.** [Claim 58% off now.](https://www.levernews.com/r/3bdb3ce3?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) **LEVERMIND** **Does President Donald Trump know why he’s at war? Why are Democrats dragging their feet? And what can Congress vote for?** The answers to these questions and many more can be found in **LeverMind**, our weekly news quiz testing your knowledge of the developments that really matter — and who needs to be held accountable. 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To gain access and loads of other perks, [****upgrade now**](https://www.levernews.com/r/b5011ded?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc)! [Upgrade Now & Gain Full Access](https://www.levernews.com/r/314a7f06?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) **THANK YOU TO OUR LEVER LEADERS** **Lever Leaders** provide us with our highest level of support and score additional perks in return, including a yearly gift subscription for friends and family, access to an exclusive _Lever_ staff meeting for a sneak peek at our future plans, and an annual gift of limited-edition _Lever_ merchandise. [Join readers like Paul R.](https://www.levernews.com/r/e8037836?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc), who had this to say about becoming a Lever Leader: _“A subscriber since the inception of_ The Daily Poster_, I'm glad to be able to support the growth of real investigative reporting.”_ [Become A Lever Leader Today](https://www.levernews.com/r/504d3fcc?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) **_LEVER_ IN THE NEWS** [**_Drugwatch_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/db5e4795?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) — The legal website featured our recent story on how bad medicine makes it to market, which was also the subject of its recent podcast episode: [Big Pharma Behind The Scenes](https://www.levernews.com/r/1948749b?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc). [**_The Time Of Monsters With Jeet Heer_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/164068ae?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) — David Sirota appeared on _The Nation_’s podcast to discuss [Master Plan Season 2](https://www.levernews.com/r/2713e5c1?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc). * Sirota also discussed the new season of the investigative audio series on [**_Matt Lewis Can't Lose_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/99bf8f04?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) and [**_My History Can Beat Up Your Politics_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/9f1df110?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc). [**_Streetsblog USA_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/8bfe7d69?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) — The outlet covering the movement to end car dependency referenced our reporting on [Uber’s campaign to curb crash lawsuits](https://www.levernews.com/r/1ebca48a?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc). [**_Inside Philanthropy_**](https://www.levernews.com/r/827d140c?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) _—_ The outlet focused on nonprofits and philanthropy highlighted our coverage of an [$11 million pledged AIPAC donation](https://www.levernews.com/r/d42a37f5?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) from OnlyFans founder Leonid Radvinsky, who passed away last month. Feeling overwhelmed by the news onslaught? We’ve got you covered. [Become a paid subscriber](https://www.levernews.com/r/0f021bcb?m=47415e10-4513-4b24-a7c6-03a71324efbc) to help us sort through the noise and provide you with the information you need to understand what’s really going on. 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