The ZeroHedge article (dated February 20, 2026, by "Tyler Durden"— is a sceptical, urgency-driven opinion piece arguing that one year into Donald Trump's second term, promised accountability for the "Deep State" (defined here as entrenched, unaccountable bureaucratic elements in agencies like the FBI, DOJ, and broader intelligence/security apparatus) remains unfulfilled. It critiques the administration's early actions as superficial or backsliding, warning that without aggressive prosecutions, legislative reforms, and structural dismantling, the Deep State will endure, potentially dooming the "America First" agenda to reversal by midterms or a future Democratic president (e.g., Gavin Newsom). The tone is frustrated and alarmist, portraying the situation as salvageable but on a razor-thin timeline, with the Deep State "too far gone" if delays persist.

Main Thesis

The core claim is that Executive Orders (EOs) and symbolic gestures are inadequate; true reform requires confronting the Deep State head-on through arrests, defunding, and permanent laws to prevent its resurgence. The piece contrasts Trump's first term (marred by infighting and unaddressed corruption) with the current one, emphasising that voter mandates for accountability are being squandered. It posits: "The question is no longer whether the Deep State exists, but whether those in power are willing to confront it while they still can."

Key Arguments on Rooting Out the Deep State

Possibility of Success (Pro-Reform): The article holds out hope if action is swift. It highlights figures like Kash Patel (former Trump advisor and author of Government Gangsters), who previously advocated exposing FBI corruption and restructuring agencies. Demanded steps include: prosecuting January 6 Committee members for misconduct (e.g., destroying records), pursuing criminal referrals against Anthony Fauci, releasing all Epstein-related documents, supporting whistle-blowers like Brook Jackson in her Pfizer fraud case, and ending DOJ "weaponisation" (e.g., labelling protesting parents as "terrorists"). Congress should codify reforms and cut funding for fraudulent programs exposed by the DOGE initiative (Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy). Without this, gains are reversible, but with it, the Deep State could be "rooted out."

Risks of Failure (Con-Reform/Too Far Gone): Counterarguments focus on emerging inaction: Patel's shift from calling the FBI "deeply compromised" to treating it as "credible"; the sidelining of Ed Martin (a DOJ appointee investigating Biden-era targeting) as evidence of intolerance for real probes; continued funding of corrupt bureaucracies despite exposures; and the DOJ's ongoing resistance to whistle-blower cases. The piece accuses Republican leadership of "running out the clock," implying the Deep State is so entrenched that political will is eroding, risking a repeat of first-term failures and eventual collapse under unchecked power.

Deep State Examples Highlighted

The article spotlights agencies as captured and abusive:

FBI: Labelled "deeply compromised" with ties to Epstein cover-ups; its director allegedly holds client lists dismissed as "conspiracy."

DOJ: Accused of targeting citizens (e.g., parents via journalist Emerald Robinson's reports) while ignoring scandals; fighting against accountability in high-profile cases.

Broader Bureaucracy: Integrating AI without checks, risking future abuses; funded despite DOGE revelations of waste.

The article ends with a dire warning: Delays are "reckless," betraying voters, and without 2026 action (prosecutions/legislation), the Deep State wins by default, leading to undone reforms and societal "collapse." The piece predicts time is "running out," urging confrontation now to avoid a Democrat-led reversal.

The article does not mention comedian/podcaster Jimmy Dore, but should, as he has some insights as well. Based on Dore's recent public statements, he aligns more with the "too far gone" pessimism, viewing Trump's administration as captured by the Deep State (or aligned interests like the military-industrial complex, Wall Street, and pro-MIC lobbies) rather than dismantling it. In interviews from 2025–2026, Dore describes the Deep State as "real" and "hostile" to Trump, but argues Trump is "controlled" by it, acting as a "tool" or "thorn" without genuine reform — evidenced by broken promises on wars, accountability, and domestic issues. On X in February 2026, Dore criticises Trump for flipping on campaign pledges, and failing to confront entities like the FBI (calling out Dan Bongino for "destroy[ing] his reputation by lying to cover up for the deep state"). He promotes episodes on his show eviscerating Trump's term as "disastrous," with guests like Dave Smith and Thomas Massie highlighting Deep State influence and unfulfilled anti-establishment rhetoric. Dore's stance: Trump could theoretically challenge it but won't, as he's part of the problem — serving donors, and warmongers — making real uprooting unlikely or "too far gone" under his leadership.

This fits ZeroHedge's libertarian-leaning, anti-establishment vibe, echoing broader 2026 conservative frustrations (e.g., from outlets like The American Conservative or podcasters like Tucker Carlson) that Trump's term risks mirroring establishment norms despite populist wins. Broader context: As of February 2026, no major Deep State prosecutions have materialised, per public reports, fuelling such critiques.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/year-trumps-2nd-term-when-does-accountability-deep-state-begin