Analysis: Why Trump Is Struggling to Change the Narrative on Epstein
www.politico.com

... The president seems to have lost his talent for shaping the story of the day. Or did the Wall Street Journal just throw him a lifeline? ...

fwiw, I disagree wit the conclusions of the analysis, but I thought it worthwhile to post anyway.

This is a much better place': WSJ bombshell unites a frayed MAGA
www.politico.com

... Some of President Donald Trump's aides and closest allies breathed a sigh of relief Friday as the MAGA base, once sharply divided over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, rallied to the president's defense and trained their ire on a common enemy: the media.

The Wall Street Journal's report alleging Trump sent a lewd birthday letter to Epstein offered the administration and the president's supporters a chance to shift the narrative to more comfortable ground where Trump is the victim and the so-called elites are the target. And they believe it gives credence to the president's argument earlier this week that the Epstein story has been a "witchhunt" that plays into Democrats' hands.

"Thank God for Dems and media overreach on this," said a person close to the administration, granted anonymity to speak candidly. "It saves us every time." ...