Democrats stoke the flames of MAGA world’s Epstein saga: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, Ben Kamisar explores how Democrats have changed their tune on the Jeffrey Epstein files as they try to exploit a divide between President Donald Trump and his base. Plus, Alexandra Marquez and Alex Tabet preview tomorrow’s special House primary in Arizona, which is serving as a test for young progressives.

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— Adam Wollner

Democrats stoke the flames of MAGA world’s Epstein saga

By Ben Kamisar

Democrats are echoing criticism from the right of how President Donald Trump and his administration have handled case files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It’s a stark reversal for a party that swiftly condemned Trump’s unfounded claims about the investigation into the financier and his death nearly six years ago.

Democrats have now spent days poking the bear after an administration memo knocked down conspiracy theories related to Epstein’s past activities and his suicide in 2019. Democratic lawmakers are demanding that the Trump administration release more documents related to the investigation into Epstein, accusing the president and his allies of either a cover-up or a cynical ploy to exploit conspiracy theories about Epstein for political gain.

And Democratic candidates and committees have been fanning the flames as some of Trump’s most prominent right-wing supporters threaten a revolt over the issue.

With MAGA world seething, key members of his administration at odds and Trump himself on the defense, Democrats are embracing the raw politics of the situation, despite their previous scolding.

On social media: The DNC launched a new account on X that posts daily messages reminding its followers that Trump has “not released the Epstein files.” The account has also reposted Trump-focused, Epstein-related criticism from key social media influencers.

On Capitol Hill: Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced he would introduce a resolution “demanding the Trump administration release all files related to the Epstein case.”

On the campaign trail: Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who is running for re-election in a state that went red in last year’s presidential election, criticized Trump on the issue while invoking the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against the president and his past social relationship with Epstein. (Trump has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and has denied any impropriety related to Epstein’s crimes.)

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Related: Tucker Carlson leads MAGA’s worried warriors in questioning Trump, by Allan Smith

The Democratic Party’s fight over generational change flares in Arizona

By Alexandra Marquez and Alex Tabet

It’s hot election summer — at least according to Democrats who are organizing behind youthful and progressive candidates in a series of off-year primaries.

First was Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state legislator who won New York’s Democratic mayoral primary over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. (More on that race below.) Now, a special election for a vacant congressional seat in southern Arizona is grabbing attention in part because of a young Democrat’s campaign.

After Rep. Raúl Grijalva died in March at 77, Deja Foxx, 25, is gaining ground ahead of Tuesday’s special Democratic primary in Arizona’s 7th District, running on a message of generational change and hoping to leverage support from her almost 400,000 TikTok followers and 240,000 Instagram followers. But she doesn’t have a clear path against former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, the late congressman’s daughter and former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez.

Grijalva, 54, with endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., doesn’t give Foxx the same ideological opening that Mamdani exploited in New York. Not only did Grijalva’s father serve the district in Congress for over 20 years, but Hernandez also has siblings who serve in the state House.

Still, the race has become part of a broader nationwide conversation among Democrats about the ages of their party’s elected leaders and the desire for generational change.

In a recent interview, Foxx acknowledged that her age has played a role in her campaign messaging and the support she has drawn from young people across the country.

“We have lost ground with young people as a party for the first time in decades … and it’s not enough to just put our members of Congress on TikTok, right, or brief them on the trends or put mini-mics in their face. We need to give young people real leadership,” Foxx said.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary is likely to win September’s general special election to represent a stretch from Tucson to the U.S.-Mexico border.

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That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Dylan Ebs.

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