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 Kaarsbo

WHAT WE LEARNED

Jacob (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 COMMITMENTS

Lev: “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.

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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 UP

Lev 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’ ATTORNEY

This 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 STRIKE

Trump 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 TODAY

Trump 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 EVER

China 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 PATTERN

What 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 COMMUNITY

Lev 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 viewers

5️⃣ DENMARK SUMMONS U.S. ENVOY OVER GREENLAND

Trump 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 ACKNOWLEDGED

SpyTalk 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 HIDDEN

The 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?

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We 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.

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2️⃣ CBS KILLS TORTURE EXPOSÉ BEFORE AIR

CBS 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 PURSUED

The 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 THREAD

Denmark. 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.

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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 Deadline

House 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 Lies

Donald 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 Vote

Four 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 Status

The 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 Hit

Mark 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 Begins

The 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 Note

Anne 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 Beat

Britain 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 Day

ISIS 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 Tonight

Trump 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.

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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 Video

The 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 Murder

At 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 Records

Trump’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 Friday

The 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.

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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 About

A 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 NATO

After 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 Healthcare

Twenty-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 Manhunt

Brown 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.

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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 Prove

Trump 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 Photos

We 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 Archive

The photos released today connect to evidence that’s been hiding in plain sight in the Epstein archive. r

Trump 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 Now

These 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

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5️⃣ The Citadel Exposed

Tucker Carlson told Olivia Nuzzi to fear for her life and offered her a shotgun. When the scandal broke, Nuzzi was elated—it meant she was back in touch with RFK Jr. She recruited her CAA agent and CNN spokesperson to smear Ryan Lizza. This is “an absolutely dark look into mainstream media’s collection of information to kill information or to keep powerful people in power.” The citadel where “if the secrets stay inside you can stay, if any of the secrets leak you’re in trouble.”

Mainstream media exists to “captain certain narratives on behalf of their executive relationships” and to “kill certain narratives, to hoover up information, catch and kill.” David Pecker admitted under oath: “Yeah, we were the arm of Donald Trump’s media empire.” Lizza isn’t a hero, but he’s exposing the system. And it was an affront when Trump said it, but it’s f*****g true: mainstream media is the enemy of the people.

4️⃣ They Put Him on Zoom

Protesters stormed Noem’s hearing dressed as priests. But Democrats brought out Seijoon Park on Zoom—Purple Heart recipient, shot twice in Panama, deported to Korea after 14 years clean from minor 1990s drug offenses. “These guys are getting good with their stunts. You bring the guy that she deported for no f*****g reason and you go, hey, tell him exactly why. This guy who got shot for America.”

Four percent. That’s how many deported people have criminal records. Not 40. Not 14. Four. “They’re getting rid of anybody that doesn’t look like them, doesn’t act like them, doesn’t talk like them.” A federal judge is investigating Noem for criminal contempt. Congress gave her $165 billion. Another judge ordered a release. The regime said no.

3️⃣ Epstein’s Algorithm: The Goodbye Letter

Eight days until December 19. But the real story is the algorithm Epstein left on his chalkboard—”almost as a goodbye letter to the world.” Left side: spheres of influence. Financial. Physics. Intellectual. Political. “This is where he would ultimately get so much power that would get someone like Donald Trump into the White House.”

He does it through deception. The illusion to lure people into his lair where plants would discover “exactly what the weakness of each individual was, what their truth was, their religious underpinning, where they’re most vulnerable for compromise.” Right side: music, time, subconscious. “The best place to do this deception is in the dark brain. So people don’t realize they’re being played.”

“It effectively is a way to control people, to extract information, to attain power.” Turning people into “prosthetics”—extensions of himself. Jean-Luc Brunel’s birthday message: E=MC². Epstein equals the model agency squared. “Biology is about deception,” Epstein said. He was using it “as a means to steal, as a means to destroy countries.” This is the calling card. Eight days.

2️⃣ Europe’s Kill Shot

Today Europe triggered Article 122 and seized $210 billion of Russia’s frozen assets. Going directly to Ukraine. To fight Russia. With Russia’s money. “Europe literally walked into the global vault and effectively told Donald Trump, you don’t run the world anymore, sunshine.”

Trump and Putin’s 28-point plan wanted that money to go to the U.S. and Russia to “rebuild” after the genocide. The EU said f**k that. Russia is “on the brink of financial collapse. Their hope was Donald Trump. That ain’t happening. It’s a kill shot.” Europe is prepared to trigger a $2.43 trillion bond sell-off of U.S. Treasury bonds. “How do you take down a mob? You attack their money.”

Lavrov: “There was a misunderstanding.” Translation: Russia knows it’s fucked. “There is more hope in Ukraine today because the EU decided to actually grow a spine than there has been in almost four years.”

1️⃣ Venezuela: Pure Theater

Trump held a war meeting Monday. Seized the tanker yesterday. Fifteen thousand troops deployed. Timeline: Christmas. “It’s always been about regime change. It has nothing to do with drugs. Just the oil.”

But: “I gotta be honest, I don’t think it happens.” Trump is “taco Trump—take it all back. He never follows through.” He starts fires, comes back as peacemaker. “I believe what he’s doing is setting up this whole war to be on the list of wars he solved.”

“Vladimir Putin is Maduro’s friend and Trump is Vladimir Putin’s friend and there’s no way anything is happening without Putin controlling it.” Add Xi. “This just might be a great big f*****g theatrical operation that we’re kind of just suckers on the other end of. The deal might already have been made.”

The timing? “Epstein files come out on the 19th. They want to be at war by the 25th. It certainly smells like that’s not just coincidental.”

“That is why Americans don’t trust the government or the media because it’s just theater. It’s just nonsense.”

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. 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 Miami Delivers Democrats Their First Win Since 1997

Eileen Higgins didn’t just win Miami’s mayoral race—she crushed Trump’s handpicked candidate with nearly 60% of the vote in a county Trump carried by 12 points last year. The Republican Party’s three-decade stranglehold on Miami just ended, and the message is clear: Hispanic voters who delivered the red wave are already pulling back. When Trump and DeSantis both go all-in on your candidate and you still lose by 20 points, that’s not a fluke—that’s a referendum. Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar saw it coming: “Hispanics married President Trump, but they are only dating the GOP.” The dehumanizing immigration rhetoric that plays well in rallies doesn’t work when it targets your neighbors. Democrats just found their midterm blueprint.

4️⃣ The Federal Reserve Signals the Easy Money is Over

The Fed cut rates for the third straight time Wednesday, but Chair Jerome Powell’s real message was in what comes next: almost nothing. One cut projected for all of 2026. This was the most divided Fed vote in six years, with three officials dissenting—including Trump’s own appointee Stephen Miran, who wanted deeper cuts. The central bank is trapped between persistent 2.8% inflation and a job market that’s shed 1.1 million positions this year. Trump keeps demanding aggressive rate cuts, but Powell knows he’s out of ammunition. The next Fed chair Trump appoints in May will inherit an economy balanced on a knife’s edge, flying blind on data delayed by government shutdowns.

3️⃣ Trump’s Digital Dragnet Targets America’s Closest Allies

The administration wants five years of social media history from every tourist visiting from 42 allied countries—the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and more. What’s currently optional on visa waiver applications would become mandatory, along with email addresses from the past decade, phone numbers, and family members’ personal details. This isn’t security theater—it’s a surveillance state demanding digital submission from business travelers and tourists alike. Civil liberties groups are warning this will chill free speech and trigger reciprocal requirements from Europe. The travel industry spent years streamlining entry processes. Trump’s DHS just turned America’s welcome mat into a digital strip search.

2️⃣ House Republicans Shut Down War Crimes Investigation

Mike Rogers announced Tuesday he’s ending the House Armed Services Committee investigation into Caribbean boat strikes that killed 87 people—just as evidence emerged that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out Admiral Alvin Holsey for questioning the operations’ legality. The admiral raised concerns about the “murky” legal authority for strikes that included a September “double tap” attack deliberately killing survivors clinging to wreckage. Legal experts are calling it a potential war crime. The Senate is demanding unedited videos. But Rogers decided he’s “seen enough” and shut it down. The U.S. military despises Hegseth for these operations, and no House investigation closure will change that. This is interference running at its most transparent—protecting a defense secretary under military tribunal scrutiny by declaring the war crimes probe over before it barely started.

1️⃣ Trump Calls Press Coverage “Treasonous” and Demands NYT Cease Publication

The 79-year-old president who spent his entire campaign questioning Biden’s cognitive fitness just declared it “seditious, perhaps even treasonous” for The New York Times to report on his declining stamina. In a 488-word Truth Social meltdown, Trump suggested “we should do something about it” and called for the paper to “cease publication” after it documented his reduced schedule, later start times, and multiple instances of falling asleep during White House events. The data backs the Times: Trump’s public appearances are down 39% from his first term, and he now starts events at 12:08 PM instead of 10:30 AM. This is the rhetoric of autocrats who need the illusion of invincibility to maintain control. The Times isn’t backing down, and Trump’s tantrum only confirms their reporting hit the target.

BONUS:

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

Thank you Nick Paro, Cat, Robin Payes, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Angie T, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dean Blundell! Join me for my next live video in the app.

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