brainwashed

we show

each other our cards, after

soft small

talk

about the weather and sports.

he says, i hate him.

he's a liar,

a crazy man.

i ask for specifics.

he says,

he lies about everything,

can you name

one lie,

just one.

he says, no, not at the moment.

but i still

hate him.

CNN

says i should.

but energy and food

prices

are down,

i tell him.

wars are winding down.

employment

is up.

no taxes on tips,

they're taking the fraud

out of Medicare

and Medicaid.

taxpayers are getting breaks,

seniors

are getting more on their

social security,

manufacturing is coming

back to this country.

the border is completely secure.

i don't know about any of that,

he says.

that's the first i've heard

of any of that,

but what about the Epstein files?

gotcha there, don't I?