1. So what are we to make of Bill and Jeff's non-excellent adventure? It shows that the "adage the personal is political" has far reaching implications. 
2. That Bill & Melinda Gates are divorcing is (I assume) sad for them, their family & friends. But not of public interest. That Bill's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was a factor raises the gossip level. But more than it: it clarifies why the divorce has policy implications.
3. The line from Bill Gates' people is: "Bill only met with Epstein to discuss philanthropy.” Which on the face of it is risible (although some people are buying it & some people say harping on the Epstein stuff is entering in QAnon territory).
4. I mean just on the basic level of common sense: Bill Gates didn't need Jeffrey Epstein to bolster his philanthropic funding, contact other rich people, develop a network of scientists etc. He's Bill fucking Gates! He could do any of that with a phone call.
5. Crucially, the whole "I just met with Jeffrey Epstein to talk about philanthropy" (the rich man's "I just read Playboy for the articles") ignores the fact that the Gates Foundation gives a lot of money to anti-trafficking efforts (i.e. the crime Epstein was guilty of).
6. @melissagira explores this particular hypocrisy in depth: that the Gates Foundation & Microsoft itself carry out "anti-trafficking" measures that really target poor sex workers rather than, ahem, Gates' social network. newrepublic.com/article/162451…
7. Some more thoughts here from me on the many dark implications of the Epstein/Gates business, the absurd excuses to justify, and what it shows about do-gooder capitalism. jeetheer.substack.com/p/jeffrey-epst…
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