Straight Outta Pierre: South Dakota's 'freedom dust' kicks up again

Sharp, snappy and South Dakotan — An anonymous shot of insight with a twist of sarcasm

It’s hard to know which way is up in Trump Country. One week, our president is the working man’s hero, the next, Donald Trump is lifting tariffs on coffee, fruit and beef because grocery prices didn’t magically fall after he slapped taxes on them. Turns out making everything more expensive wasn’t quite the bargain the base was sold.

And now come the Epstein files. During the campaign, he couldn’t talk fast enough about releasing them, promising full transparency and draining the swamp with sunlight for everyone. Now that Congress is actually pushing to make that happen, he’s working overtime to keep the lid on. The House could vote any day, and if it passes, the circus moves to the Senate, where John Thune will have to decide whether he’s for sunlight or shade.