A Rare Peek In

Hi friend,

A hypothetical: You die, and the entire world gains access to your email and phone correspondence. What sort of portrait would it paint of you?

We’re watching this play out in real time with the over three million Epstein files recently released — a searchable collection of strangely misspelled emails, photos, videos, and legal documents, among other artifacts.

The sheer volume of material means constant new revelations of what Epstein and his enablers were up to. One major takeaway is that this crew was very threatened by the media — particularly Julie K. Brown and Tina Brown – and the #MeToo movement.

“The ‘anti-woke’ movement was not a genteel intellectual inquiry, made by disinterested parties who cared deeply about free speech,” writes reporter Elizabeth Lopatto for The Verge. “It is a social circle of powerful people who feel threatened by #MeToo. Reading through the emails, it’s possible to see that Epstein himself coordinated pushback against #MeToo. Looking back, it seems obvious that sinking #MeToo also led to where we are now: a place where laws simply don’t apply if you have enough money and power. The same players are involved.”

Another revelation: just “how many prominent people continued to engage with Epstein after — after — he was registered as a sex offender,” as a shocked David Remnick says to Julie K. Brown in The New Yorker.

But that doesn’t quite capture it completely. Because a funny kind of thing happened after Epstein was convicted. Instead of shunning him, he became a sort of disgraced-man whisperer whom other men turned to for advice on their various challenges (Tommy Mottola, Leon Black). In addition to counsel, he offered his services; for instance, conspiring with lawyer Brad Karp to surveil and try to deport a woman who was becoming an "inconvenience" (per The Guardian) for Black.

Others would reach out to Epstein to proffer their support and sympathy, as if he was the victim in all of this. The Wall Street Journal has helpfully aggregated some of these messages. 

British politician Peter Mandelson: “I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened. It just could not happen in Britain.”

Banking bigwig Jes Staley: “I miss you…I hope you keep the island. We all may need to live there.”

Next Modeling Agency founder Faith Kates: “I know you don’t believe this but I really do love you like a brother…and feel so sad this is happening.”

Attorney David Schoen: “These past couple of years you have to deal with horrible government agencies and folks who appear to be nothing less than extortionists posing as victims and that has to have been terrible. I hope there are nothing but good times now and ahead.”

Prominent intellectual Noam Chomsky: “What the vultures dearly want is a public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks, many from just publicity seekers or cranks of all sorts…That’s particularly true now with the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women, which has reached the point that even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder.”

David A. Ross, former director of the Whitney: “Glad the nightmare is over, Jeffrey. It was an undeserved punishment foisted upon you by jealous creeps.”

It goes on and on, but you get it. What a fascinating picture of how these people conduct themselves in private. “This is a world where the men are rich and powerful, and the women are not,” says Amelia Gentleman​​ for The Guardian. And for women, the dump is an “unprecedented chance to eavesdrop on conversations from which they are usually excluded.”

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

We look forward to the day when we can put our snow boots and puffers back into storage. In anticipation of those warmer times, here’s a selection of spring-to-summer pieces catching our eye — and everything’s under $100.

• These brown striped jeans are so cool. Mango Straight Striped Jeans, $90. Size 0 to 14.

• A classic white button-down in crisp cotton. Cos Tailored Pima Cotton Shirt, $99. Size 2 to 14.

• Statement sunglasses with a ‘70s vibe. Isabel Marant Sunglasses, $80.

• Comfy and perfectly oversized. Lioness Bloom Long-Sleeve Top, $69. Size XXS to XXL.

• Size up for the right amount of slouch. Levi’s Cinch Barrel Jeans, $59.47. Waist size 23 to 34.

• A cute little light-wash chambray. J.Crew Étienne Cropped Chambray Button-Up, $82.50. Size XXS to 3XL.

• Love the red version of this sexy-boho top. Free People Monica Top, $78. Size XS to XL.

• A great deal on a pricey brand. TWP Straight-Leg Jeans, $99. Waist size 25 to 31.

• Like Hunza G, but for much less (and with better butt coverage). Victoria’s Secret Crinkle Scoop One-Piece Swimsuit, $25. Size XS/S to XL/XXL.

• Such a great cut for work pants. Banana Republic Crop Flare Everywhere Ponte Pant, $80. Size XXS to XXL.

• A pretty, floaty top. Xirena Marnie Top, $49.50. Size XS to L.

• Fresh new sneakers. New Balance 530, $100.

• An easy way to try the lower-rise that’s taking over denim. Uniqlo Low-Rise Wide Jeans, $49.90. Waist size 22 to 30.

Shop the Story

TO READ Listening to Namwali Serpell take us through Toni Morrison’s works in her new book, On Morrison (Bookshop, Amazon), is fascinating. If only we had a Harvard English prof to explain more books to us. Seriously!

TO TRY This doctor-recommended vibrator that everyone is talking about intensifies intimacy. It’s designed to help increase arousal and support natural lubrication, with an ultra-flexible shape that finds all the right spots and actually delivers. Limited time V-Day exclusive: 35% off — plus an extra 20% with code S4VE20. #partner

TO WATCH In Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee’s new comedic mystery How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (on Netflix), three millennial women investigate the murder of a childhood friend. For more thrills, less humor: the steamy 56 Days (on Prime Video tomorrow), which is based on the book by Catherine Ryan Howard. Also! Kate Hudson’s turn as a singer in a Neil Diamond cover band in the feel-good Song Sung Blue is now available to stream on Peacock..

TO MAKE This easy Food & Wine recipe really amps up roasted squash. It’s delicious, takes only a few ingredients, and you can make it ahead of time.

TO LISTEN Leave it to the Canadians to come out with a longevity podcast that’s evenhanded, evidence-backed, and enjoyable. It’s called How to Live to 100 (Or Die Trying) and it’s from the Toronto Star.

7 For All Mankind hosted a runway show at NYFW. • Jeff Bezos’s bushes are making his Beverly Hills neighbors “berserk.” • “Meta patented an AI that lets you keep posting from beyond the grave.” • Sarah McLachlan’s Tiny Desk Concert is amazing. • This exploration of Epstein’s world is smart and worth your time.

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