Breaking History – How Clinton, Trump, and Epstein Rewired America’s Moral Compass

Podcast: Breaking History (The Free Press)
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Eli Lake
Notable Guests: Christine Rosen (Historian, AEI), John Podhoretz (Commentary Magazine editor)
Summary Prepared: For listeners seeking a detailed yet approachable recap

Overview:

This episode examines how high-profile sex scandals—from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein—have transformed American political culture and the nation’s moral expectations for its leaders. Through historical context and first-hand accounts, the podcast explores the collapse of accountability, the shifting tides of feminism and culture wars, and the recurring pattern of elites escaping justice for egregious misconduct. The Epstein scandal, with its far-reaching implications, is analyzed as both a symptom and a catalyst of America’s present-day populist rage and moral confusion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Release of Epstein Files and Political Drama

• Epstein Files Released: Recent Congressional action released all federal material on Jeffrey Epstein (emails, interviews, recordings), described as a “watershed moment for the MAGA coalition.”
  • [03:19] “The House and Senate voted last week to release the emails, interview transcripts, recordings the federal government has pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein.”
• Trump’s Maneuvering: Initially resisted by President Trump, who called the scandal a “hoax” and tried to block the release, only to abruptly reverse course due to political pressure.
  • [04:23] Trump: “It’s a hoax that's been built up way beyond proportion … I never went to the island. And Bill Clinton went there supposedly 28 times.”
• Significance: The scandal illuminates bipartisan entanglement and deep populist frustration with elite impunity.

2. Why Epstein Became the Defining Scandal

• Scope of Misconduct: Epstein’s crimes represent “an indictment of our entire ruling class,” involving an “Illuminati-level Rolodex” (Bill Gates, Larry Summers, Woody Allen, etc.).
  • [06:36] “Off the bat, you have a serial statutory rapist who happens to have an Illuminati level Rolodex … Epstein was friends with the people who run the world.”
• Victims’ Testimonies: Segment features disturbing accounts from survivors, highlighting the scale and horror (“There are about a thousand of us”) [06:33].
• Enduring Mysteries: Many in Epstein’s circle remain unscathed; the scandal remains “the tip of a very large iceberg” [10:50].

3. Historical Context: Sex Scandals and Shifting Norms

• Political Scandals Past:
  • Recalls Jefferson/Hemings, Grover Cleveland, JFK, and Warren G. Harding—where the elite colluded with press to hush up misconduct.
  • [16:27] Mimi Alford (on JFK): “He had been guilty of an unforgivable episode at the White House pool... Take care of it. That was a challenge to give Dave Powers oral sex... I’m ashamed to say that I did.”
• Changing Media Role: Watergate transformed the press from “courtier” to watchdog, making sex scandals dangerous for politicians (Gary Hart, Packwood, Clarence Thomas).
• Impact of Feminism:
  • Christine Rosen: “There is a big shift in terms of what is brought to the public's attention once you have a very activist feminist movement…” [17:29]
  • Susan Brownmiller debates Hugh Hefner on the Dick Cavett Show about women’s rights and public perception [18:49].

4. The Clinton Era: Survival and Cynicism

• Clinton’s Resilience:
  • Endured the Jennifer Flowers scandal using an emotional joint TV appearance with Hillary Clinton. [26:42]
  • [27:28] “Are you prepared tonight to say that you’ve never had an extramarital affair?” Clinton: “I’m not prepared tonight to say that any married couple should ever discuss that with anyone but themselves.”
• Wave of Allegations:
  • Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones ($850,000 settlement), Kathleen Willey, Monica Lewinsky.
  • [30:44] Clinton’s famous denial: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”
• Feminist Defenses:
  • Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan prioritized political gains over strict enforcement of personal morality.
  • [34:58] Steinem (NYT): “If President Clinton were as vital to preserving freedom of speech as he is to preserving reproductive freedom, would journalists be condemned as inconsistent for refusing to suggest he resign? Forget it.”

5. Republican Hypocrisy and Moral Collapse

• Impeachment Fallout:
  • Clinton survived, but the GOP became the party of moral purity—only for its own leaders (Livingston, Hastert) to face sex scandals, some as horrifying as Epstein’s.
  • [37:38] Dennis Hastert: “We learned much later that Denny Hastert had led a far more scandalous private life than either Livingston or Clinton. Approaching Epstein levels.”

6. Into the Trump Era: Reciprocity in Moral Exception

• Access Hollywood & Evangelicals:
  • [41:35] Trump on tape: “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”
• Right-Wing Relativism:
  • John Podhoretz: “Sorry, buddy, we’re not playing that game anymore. ...We’ll vote for Donald Trump and we’re not gonna kick him out of office.” [43:23]
• 2016 Campaign:
  • Trump brings Clinton accusers to a debate, turning the Clinton-era playbook against its architects.
  • [44:06] Trump: “That was locker room talk… But if you look at Bill Clinton, far worse, mine were words. And his was action. His was what he’s done to women.”

7. MeToo, the Return Of Feminist Ethics, and the Backlash

• Democratic Reckoning:
  • MeToo emerges, toppling figures like Harvey Weinstein and Al Franken; Republicans face accusations (Kavanaugh) but often resist consequences.
• Bill Clinton’s Non-Apology:
  • [46:03] “But you didn't apologize to her... I thought I owe her an apology? No, I do not.”
• Backfiring and Overcorrection:
  • MeToo accused of overreach; due process sometimes abandoned in favor of blanket belief (“believe all women”).

8. Final Reflections: What Broke America’s Moral Compass?

• Cultural Coarsening:
  • Clinton’s and Trump’s “exceptions” signaled the end of credible enforcement of moral norms.
  • [49:06] “The feminists let Bill Clinton get away with his sexual predations, and the evangelicals let Trump get away with his. Are we surprised both of these scoundrels once considered Jeffrey Epstein a friend? All three… got away with it.”
• Elite Impunity:
  • Epstein’s lenient sentences, enduring elite status, and the culture’s cynicism fuel populist rage and disengagement from moral standards.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Unraveling Standard:
  • [39:53] Christine Rosen: “They traded their moral high ground with regard to what’s the correct way to treat women… for the political expediency of keeping Bill Clinton in office.”
• On Political Calculus:
  • [46:20] Eli Lake: “As a purely political calculation, yes, it was worth it. …We should remember that politics is not a zero sum game in our republic. There is value in upholding norms, even when it’s politically disastrous.”
• On Populist Anger:
  • [49:06] “When you are wealthy, famous, and have all the right friends, you get away with things the rest of us wouldn’t dream of.”

Key Timestamps

• [03:19] Congressional release of Epstein files
• [04:23] Trump comments on the Epstein scandal being a “hoax”
• [06:18] Epstein victims’ public service announcement
• [07:55] Virginia Giuffre recounts encounter with Prince Andrew
• [13:40–14:57] Historical scandals: Jefferson, Cleveland, Harding
• [16:27] Mimi Alford’s account of sexual abuse by JFK
• [19:08] Susan Brownmiller and Hefner debate feminism
• [26:42] Clinton’s 60 Minutes appearance with Hillary
• [30:44] Clinton’s denial regarding Monica Lewinsky
• [34:58] Gloria Steinem’s New York Times “one free grope” op-ed
• [37:38] Dennis Hastert’s abuse coming to light
• [41:35] Trump’s Access Hollywood tape
• [43:23] Podhoretz on Republicans abandoning the old moral standard
• [44:06] Trump justifies behavior in 2016 debate
• [46:03] Clinton on apologizing to Monica Lewinsky
• [49:06] Conclusion—the star system and unaccountable elites

Tone & Style

The hosts and guests blend historical analysis with candid, sometimes sardonic commentary. The tone is direct yet accessible, sometimes grimly witty (“he managed to hang himself in his prison cell, despite being under the watch of guards for 24 hours a day” [06:51]). The episode invites listeners to question the ongoing erosion of ethical standards in public life and to consider the deeper systemic causes behind recurring elite impunity and public cynicism.

“When you’re a star, they let you do it.” – Donald Trump ([41:35])
“The feminists let Bill Clinton get away with his sexual predations, and the evangelicals let Trump get away with his. Are we surprised that both of these scoundrels once considered Jeffrey Epstein a friend?” – Eli Lake ([49:06])

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode provides a gripping, context-rich exploration of how the intersections of sex scandals and partisan tribalism have not only shaped, but warped, the American moral landscape. By tracing the journey from the Clinton drama of the 1990s to the Epstein revelations and the rise of Trump, the show illustrates—both with outrage and resigned humor—how the “star system” of American celebrity consistently protects the powerful at the expense of social trust and justice.