After Party with Emily Jashinsky

Episode: 2025 “After Party” Year in Review: A Look Back at Some of Our Top Interviews and Favorite Moments

Air date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

Emily Jashinsky hosts a lively, reflective “best of” edition to cap 2025 on After Party. The episode revisits pivotal interviews and viral moments from the show’s first six months, featuring behind-the-scenes stories, sharp political commentary, and a dose of pop culture. Jashinsky highlights how After Party launched right as consequential news events—including the Iran war scare—unfolded, lending the show a reputation for timely, consequential analysis. She revisits top interviews with Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Matt Taibbi, Mike Benz, and Adam Carolla, offering both context and fresh reactions to their most newsmaking segments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Launch Timing & Early Impact

[02:00–05:00]

• The podcast launched June 23, 2025, coinciding with escalating U.S.–Iranian tensions and internal Republican discord.
• First guest: Tucker Carlson, whose appearance was scheduled before the Iranian bombing decision but aired in the direct aftermath, supercharging viewership.
• Behind the scenes: Tucker was “jolly as can be” pitching ALP backstage but “all business in a second.” (Emily)

“We started like at the perfect time … before we even knew what was going to be in the news cycle ... let’s try Tucker Carlson for the first guest. That man is constantly making news.” – Emily Jashinsky [03:00]

2. Tucker Carlson on Iran, Trump, and GOP Infighting

[17:11–26:34]

• Carlson critiques figures like Ted Cruz and Mark Levin for prioritizing regime change over U.S. interests during the Iran crisis.
• He credits Trump for averting nuclear war, expressing gratitude while blasting “neocons” for risking American lives.
• Notably graphic analogies and harsh criticisms of political adversaries, underscoring deep divides on the right.

“Mark Levin is a repulsive ghoul whose entire sex life consists of watching other people get blown up.” – Tucker Carlson [18:27]

• Carlson distinguishes Trump as “unique among world leaders” in instinctively avoiding war and mass casualties.
• Critiques “nihilists” within the GOP coalition for using Trump’s mantle while not sharing his America First priorities.
• Challenges evangelical support for belligerent policies: “Is Jesus’s message we need to drop more bombs on people? … I’m trying to understand the message of the religion but I’m pretty certain it’s not. Let’s drop more bombs.” [22:10]

3. Megyn Kelly on Pam Bondi & the Epstein Investigation

[28:46–39:35]

• Breaks down Pam Bondi’s erratic, inconsistent statements regarding existence of an Epstein “client list.”
• Kelly trusts Dan Bongino’s honesty but believes Bondi either deliberately misled the media or was reckless.
• Refers to Bondi’s pivot from promising “juicy” disclosures to framing the investigation around child pornography rather than client blackmail.
• Jashinsky and Kelly agree transparency is lacking, fueling public skepticism.

“She either was clueless or she intentionally embarrassed them. I don’t know which is better.” – Megyn Kelly [34:22]

• Kelly’s skepticism is especially notable as she claims: “You may not know about me, Emily, but I am like the least conspiratorial person you’ll ever meet. … For me to be looking at her saying I don’t believe you is telling.” [36:31]

4. Matt Taibbi on Deep-State Investigations & Media Spin

[39:35–52:53]

• Taibbi reports on new FBI investigations into John Brennan and James Comey for perjury and misconduct related to Russiagate.
• Discusses convoluted nature of intelligence investigations: “These things are convoluted intentionally … it makes it impossible for journalists and the public to follow.” – Emily [10:40]
• Shares exclusive details about hidden documents discovered in the Hoover Building.
• Explains the significance of the recently released “Ratcliffe Report”: designed to allow perjury investigations, not necessarily a full accounting of Russiagate.

“If there’s actually damning evidence on any of those documents or hard drives that Cash is referring to ... that would be hilariously funny and kind of the perfect resolution to this whole thing.” – Matt Taibbi [44:13]

• Analyzes how government agencies and media manage timing and spin of major news events, with overlapping fallout from Epstein and Russiagate stories.

5. Mike Benz on the “Arctic Frost” Surveillance Revelations

[52:53–65:25]

• Benz describes the “historic” scale of government surveillance (Operation Arctic Frost) targeting Republican officials, nonprofits, and journalists.
• Draws parallels to Cold War–style CIA/State Department influence operations, now used domestically.
• Explains how surveillance strategy mirrored U.S. tactics for manipulating foreign societies, sparking alarm about civil liberties.
• Discusses weaponization of the Justice Department, bias in legal credentialing, and challenges for the Trump 2.0 administration in meaningfully restructuring the system.

“There was a full scale effort by the Biden Justice Department to completely destroy any aspect of the Republican Party that had some perceived allegiance or support network access around President Trump and his movement.” – Mike Benz [53:53]

6. Adam Carolla’s Viral ‘Ellen’ Stories and Hollywood Insights

[72:14–77:25]

• Adam Carolla describes Ellen DeGeneres as “always been a mean person,” confirming longstanding rumors about her toxic work environment.
• Offers behind-the-scenes anecdotes: staff “scared to death,” odd fixation on guests not mentioning meat.
• Recalls writer’s NDA-protected confession: “Worst person. Not worst person I’ve worked for, worst person I’ve ever met.”

“When you would go do Letterman ... people were scared because Dave would scare them. Ellen’s show, people were scared, real scared ... because everyone was scared of her, which means she’s mean.” – Adam Carolla [74:13/76:06]

• Commentary on how shows take on hosts’ personalities.
• Adds humor: riffs on “leg-crossing” signals among progressive politicians, contrasting Trump’s body language.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | | [03:00] | “That man is constantly making news. He's a very compelling guest on any show and he is fascinating to listen to.” | Emily Jashinsky | | [18:27] | “Mark Levin is a repulsive ghoul whose entire sex life consists of watching other people get blown up.” | Tucker Carlson | | [22:10] | “Is Jesus’s message we need to drop more bombs on people?” | Tucker Carlson | | [34:22] | “She either was clueless or she intentionally embarrassed them. I don’t know which is better.” | Megyn Kelly | | [36:31] | “For me to be looking at her saying I don’t believe you is telling.” | Megyn Kelly | | [44:13] | “If there’s actually damning evidence ... that would be hilariously funny and … the perfect resolution.” | Matt Taibbi | | [53:53] | “There was a full scale effort by the Biden Justice Department to completely destroy any aspect of the Republican Party that had some perceived allegiance or support network access around President Trump and his movement.” | Mike Benz | | [74:13] | “When you would go do Letterman ... people were scared because Dave would scare them. Ellen’s show, people were scared, real scared ... because everyone was scared of her, which means she’s mean.” | Adam Carolla |

Additional Observations

• The show struck a balance between substantive political analysis and personality-driven entertainment, with Jashinsky encouraging both deep dives and lighter, viral moments.
• Running threads include frustrations over media bias, government transparency, and the rise of independent voices in political analysis.
• Jashinsky openly invites feedback and participation, framing After Party as an emergent community more than a traditional news broadcast.

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [00:59–05:00] – Context of launch, behind the scenes with Tucker Carlson
• [17:11–26:34] – Extended Tucker Carlson interview (Iran, Trump, GOP)
• [28:46–39:35] – Megyn Kelly on Epstein/Bondi media controversy
• [39:35–52:53] – Matt Taibbi on criminal investigations into Comey/Brennan
• [52:53–65:25] – Mike Benz on state surveillance and Operation Arctic Frost
• [72:14–77:25] – Adam Carolla’s Ellen DeGeneres anecdotes and Hollywood insights

Conclusion

This “Year in Review” episode artfully weaves together the political chaos, media maneuvering, and showbiz gossip that defined After Party’s first six months. The show distinguishes itself with newsmaking interviews and unfiltered commentary, helping listeners not only recap the wild year in politics and media but also anticipate the turbulence to come in 2026.

End of Summary