Why Political Outsiders Are Winning the Fight Against Systemic Corruption

It’s Tim, sitting in for JVL today. I want to tie together themes from JVL’s recent newsletters on “enshittification” and Graham Platner, reframing them through a campaign lens. We’ve discussed how voters are seeking outsiders and fighters who defy the ideological expectations of social media-driven factional politics. Some will love this thesis; others will hate it. I’m open to revising and extending it—so share your thoughts in the comments.

On a somber note, I want to pay tribute to Jason Collins, who passed away last night. The New Jersey Nets legend made history in 2013 by becoming the first openly gay athlete in a major American professional team sport. In his final NBA season, he wore the number 98 to honor Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in 1998. Tragically, Collins was diagnosed with an advanced brain tumor last fall and died yesterday at the age of 47. Thirteen years after his historic coming out, his courage remains unmatched—few have followed in his footsteps. Rest in power, Jason. Much love to Collins; rest easy queen.

Photo illustration by The Bulwark / Photos: Getty

The Epstein Files: A Lesson in Defying the Political Establishment

Last summer, the campaign to release the Epstein files appeared dead. Trump’s coverup had succeeded with minimal resistance, and the Republican Party had fallen in line. The conversation had shifted to absurd distractions—like the “Nuuk invasion.” On June 15, 2025, Polymarket bettors gave the files just an 11.5% chance of becoming public.

Then, two House gadflies—Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)—refused to let the files be buried. They pushed forward despite backlash. Khanna’s Democratic colleagues dismissed him as a conspiracy theorist, and Trump launched a smear campaign against Massie, attacking him in grotesquely personal terms.

You know how this story ends.

While we don’t yet have everything victims demanded, accountability for perpetrators has begun—at least abroad. If Democrats retake the House next year, perhaps real accountability will finally come to the U.S.

This saga offers many lessons on “doing politics,” but the most critical is this: Meaningful change requires politicians willing to defy conventional wisdom—and endure attacks, even from their own side.

This isn’t how politics used to work. For a century, the path to results was the inside game—slowly building relationships, cutting deals with power brokers, and avoiding confrontation. That approach worked in a different era, but today’s voters demand fighters, not insiders.