“I also grokked for the first time what lengths the powers that be have always gone to to silence fierce, truth-telling women. But it never works. Not in the long arc. If they silence one woman another arises. Stormy Daniels is just the latest in a long line stretching very far back in history, and that will stretch forward as long as it needs to. We owe every single woman in that line a debt.”
A Titan's Fall: The Women Who Brought Down Donald Trump
Good evening, Buttercups, this a story of power, abuse, and the relentless pursuit of justice. In a turn of events that has shocked the nation, Donald Trump, the former President of the United States and a once-formidable business mogul, has been brought to his knees by the bravery and determination of two extraordinary women: E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels.
E. Jean Carroll, a journalist and advice columnist known for her wit and wisdom, had built a career on empowering women through her words. But for decades, she carried a painful secret: a traumatic encounter with Donald Trump in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. Fear of retribution and public scrutiny kept her silent for years, but in 2019, she courageously decided to share her story in a book, hoping to inspire others to speak their truth. Trump's response was swift and vicious - he denied ever meeting Carroll and insulted her appearance. But Carroll refused to be intimidated. She filed a defamation lawsuit, determined to hold him accountable.
Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress and director, had also crossed paths with Trump in 2006, just months after the birth of his son with wife Melania. What began as a consensual encounter turned into a years-long battle for justice when Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a $130,000 hush money payment to keep Daniels quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels, a fiercely independent single mother, refused to be silenced. She spoke out, risking her career and her personal safety to expose the truth behind the payment and Trump's alleged involvement.
These two women, from vastly different walks of life, found themselves united in a shared struggle against a powerful man who had long seemed untouchable. In May 2023, E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit culminated in a historic verdict: a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing her and for defaming her when he denied her allegations. It was the first time Trump faced legal consequences for sexual misconduct allegations, a watershed moment for survivors everywhere.
Just a year later, in May 2024, Trump stood trial in New York City on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. For six grueling weeks, Daniels and other witnesses testified, painting a damning picture of corruption and deceit at the highest levels of power. When the jury delivered their verdict - guilty on all counts - it sent shockwaves through the nation. The man who had once commanded the Oval Office was now a convicted felon.
The cases of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels raise a disturbing question: why, in a society that prides itself on equality and justice, do women still face such daunting barriers when speaking out against sexual misconduct? Too often, survivors are met with skepticism, victim-blaming, and character assassination. They are questioned about their clothing, their behavior, and their motives, as though they are the ones on trial. This pervasive culture of doubt and shame has silenced countless women, allowing predators to operate with impunity.
The fact that a man as powerful as Donald Trump could face such serious allegations and still ascend to the presidency speaks volumes about the deeply entrenched biases that permeate our society. It is a stark reminder that, even in the 21st century, women's voices are too often marginalized and their experiences dismissed.
But the bravery of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels has shown that change is possible. By speaking their truth and persevering in the face of unimaginable pressure, they have inspired countless others to come forward and demand justice. Their victories in court are not just personal triumphs, but powerful blows against a system that has long protected abusers and silenced survivors.
The cases of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels have forever changed the landscape of American justice, and their stories will inspire generations of women to come. But their bravery must also serve as a call to action - a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more just and equitable society. This is a defining moment in our nation's history, and a battle that is far from over.
Well stated. Though I will say that Stormy's case is a particular one, because the case didn't have anything to do with non-consensual sex. It had to do with corruption. The fact that Stormy was the target of endless attacks has less to do with rape culture and more to do with Puritanism. She is a woman who fucks, and has fucked for money, and many people can't believe, therefore, that she is credible or a worthy adversary for a powerful man like Trump. She's just a harlot in their eyes, which means she should be ashamed and slink away, not demand without shame to be heard.
"But all I wanted to do was gaze at her. She was like Kali incarnate, totally awesome in the original meaning of that word." Beautiful writing, Asha. And such compassion.
"(Our) system here in the United States, “founded on the backs of genocide and slavery while proclaiming the equality of ‘man’” has always suffered from a lack of integrity."
“I also grokked for the first time what lengths the powers that be have always gone to to silence fierce, truth-telling women. But it never works. Not in the long arc. If they silence one woman another arises. Stormy Daniels is just the latest in a long line stretching very far back in history, and that will stretch forward as long as it needs to. We owe every single woman in that line a debt.”
AMEN!
Asha, I wrote this yesterday:
A Titan's Fall: The Women Who Brought Down Donald Trump
Good evening, Buttercups, this a story of power, abuse, and the relentless pursuit of justice. In a turn of events that has shocked the nation, Donald Trump, the former President of the United States and a once-formidable business mogul, has been brought to his knees by the bravery and determination of two extraordinary women: E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels.
E. Jean Carroll, a journalist and advice columnist known for her wit and wisdom, had built a career on empowering women through her words. But for decades, she carried a painful secret: a traumatic encounter with Donald Trump in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. Fear of retribution and public scrutiny kept her silent for years, but in 2019, she courageously decided to share her story in a book, hoping to inspire others to speak their truth. Trump's response was swift and vicious - he denied ever meeting Carroll and insulted her appearance. But Carroll refused to be intimidated. She filed a defamation lawsuit, determined to hold him accountable.
Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress and director, had also crossed paths with Trump in 2006, just months after the birth of his son with wife Melania. What began as a consensual encounter turned into a years-long battle for justice when Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a $130,000 hush money payment to keep Daniels quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels, a fiercely independent single mother, refused to be silenced. She spoke out, risking her career and her personal safety to expose the truth behind the payment and Trump's alleged involvement.
These two women, from vastly different walks of life, found themselves united in a shared struggle against a powerful man who had long seemed untouchable. In May 2023, E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit culminated in a historic verdict: a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing her and for defaming her when he denied her allegations. It was the first time Trump faced legal consequences for sexual misconduct allegations, a watershed moment for survivors everywhere.
Just a year later, in May 2024, Trump stood trial in New York City on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. For six grueling weeks, Daniels and other witnesses testified, painting a damning picture of corruption and deceit at the highest levels of power. When the jury delivered their verdict - guilty on all counts - it sent shockwaves through the nation. The man who had once commanded the Oval Office was now a convicted felon.
The cases of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels raise a disturbing question: why, in a society that prides itself on equality and justice, do women still face such daunting barriers when speaking out against sexual misconduct? Too often, survivors are met with skepticism, victim-blaming, and character assassination. They are questioned about their clothing, their behavior, and their motives, as though they are the ones on trial. This pervasive culture of doubt and shame has silenced countless women, allowing predators to operate with impunity.
The fact that a man as powerful as Donald Trump could face such serious allegations and still ascend to the presidency speaks volumes about the deeply entrenched biases that permeate our society. It is a stark reminder that, even in the 21st century, women's voices are too often marginalized and their experiences dismissed.
But the bravery of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels has shown that change is possible. By speaking their truth and persevering in the face of unimaginable pressure, they have inspired countless others to come forward and demand justice. Their victories in court are not just personal triumphs, but powerful blows against a system that has long protected abusers and silenced survivors.
The cases of E. Jean Carroll and Stormy Daniels have forever changed the landscape of American justice, and their stories will inspire generations of women to come. But their bravery must also serve as a call to action - a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more just and equitable society. This is a defining moment in our nation's history, and a battle that is far from over.
Well stated. Though I will say that Stormy's case is a particular one, because the case didn't have anything to do with non-consensual sex. It had to do with corruption. The fact that Stormy was the target of endless attacks has less to do with rape culture and more to do with Puritanism. She is a woman who fucks, and has fucked for money, and many people can't believe, therefore, that she is credible or a worthy adversary for a powerful man like Trump. She's just a harlot in their eyes, which means she should be ashamed and slink away, not demand without shame to be heard.
Kali, grokking, and Father Nathan Monk! Good newsletter!
Also, the Bengsons!!! They’re so wonderful.
I adore them. I saw them live recently and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
"But all I wanted to do was gaze at her. She was like Kali incarnate, totally awesome in the original meaning of that word." Beautiful writing, Asha. And such compassion.
Thank you, Jeffrey!
Asha Sanaker: You state it so very well, here:
"(Our) system here in the United States, “founded on the backs of genocide and slavery while proclaiming the equality of ‘man’” has always suffered from a lack of integrity."
Yes, to all of this.
Love love LOVE this!