The Drift: Epstein's Black Hole, Gaza’s Gravity, and Trump’s New Play

If it isn’t clear by now, the latest New York Times headline or MSNBC chyron is not a reliable indicator of what stories are actually moving people.

They still matter—to political diehards. But what about the 99% of Americans who don’t treat politics as a hobby?

We need new tools to track what’s breaking through.

That’s why I’m excited to launch The Drift—a weekly snapshot for paid subscribers of The Forecast, tracking which issues are rising, fading, or about to break open.

This week’s takeaway: Epstein is a black hole.
It’s pulling attention away from nearly everything else. Even evergreen issues like climate, inflation, and immigration are showing signs of gravitational slippage.

Only one topic is holding its ground: the sheer magnitude of famine in Gaza. Despite media fatigue and algorithmic suppression, the scale of humanitarian catastrophe is still pushing through.

👀 Watch for Trump to pivot. As Epstein divides MAGA online, he’ll look to redirect attention by ramping up messaging about the Middle East—trying to shift the battlefield quickly after he cuts a deal with Ghislaine Maxwell

We can and should get ahead of that.

For years, I’ve helped movements, candidates, and causes ride the waves of the digital zeitgeist. Whether the goal was persuasion, pressure, or turnout, the most consistent wins came down to one thing: timing.

The Drift scores each topic weekly across:

It’s not a crystal ball. But it’s a solid compass.

Hit reply or email [email protected] and let me know what you think.

Thanks, as always, for being part of this community.

—Keegan