Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

Episode Summary: "2/11/26: Ro Khanna Exposes Epstein Co-Conspirators, Epstein Biohacking, Shock Jobs Numbers"

Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Krystal Ball, Ryan Grim
Podcast: Breaking Points (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview of Episode

This episode dives deeply into new revelations from the unredacted Epstein files, spotlights Representative Ro Khanna’s public disclosure of previously hidden figures tied to Epstein, explores Epstein’s obsession with biohacking and eugenics, and dissects the latest U.S. jobs report and its broader economic implications. The hosts break down connections of power, elite complicity, and government transparency, all while maintaining their hallmark irreverence and skepticism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ro Khanna and the Unredacted Epstein Files

(06:00 - 13:20)

• Congressional Revelations:

  • Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie accessed unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files at the DOJ, exposing that “70-80% of the files are still redacted.”
  • Six powerful men previously concealed by DOJ redactions were named by Khanna on the House floor:
    • Salvatore Navora,
    • Zorab Michalades,
    • Lupig Leonor,
    • Nicola Caputa,
    • Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayam (CEO of Dubai Ports World),
    • Leslie Wexner (billionaire, owner of Victoria’s Secret).

• Congressional Immunity Utilized:

  • Khanna used a protected platform (the House floor) to reveal these names, making him and Massie, in the hosts’ words, unusually courageous for Congress.
  • "These are the first two members of Congress where I'm like, I'm kind of worried about these guys." — Ryan Grim [11:39]

• Power Structures Behind the Files:

  • Ryan discusses the strategic importance of Dubai Ports World and Sultan Sulayam, underlining Epstein’s intimate knowledge of how commodities and wealth move globally, and how media often reduces complex systemic issues to personal scandals.

2. Mainstream Coverage vs. Independent Reporting

(10:57 - 13:04)

• Systemic Power vs. Scandal:

  • The hosts highlight the difference between mainstream media's focus on individual wrongdoing versus independent outlets (like Dropsite) that contextualize these actions within broader systems of global wealth and power.

• Khanna and Independent Media:

  • Ro Khanna’s attentiveness to independent media is emphasized as a major reason he is more in tune with public sentiment than many colleagues.
  • "He had his finger on the pulse of where people were on this issue long before his colleagues, because his colleagues are following the New York Times and CNN …" — Ryan Grim [12:21]

3. Howard Lutnick and Epstein

(14:51 - 18:43)

• Contradictory Testimony:
  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before Congress, originally claiming he cut off contact with Epstein in 2005; however, new emails show a 2012 visit to Epstein’s island for lunch.
  • The hosts mock the billionaire’s “forgetfulness” and suggest these lunch meetings, often with families present, were part of Epstein’s PR strategy to ingratiate himself with power brokers.

4. Epstein Files, Donald Trump, and Law Enforcement

(18:43 - 26:46)

• Trump’s Name in Over a Million Files:

  • Jamie Raskin revealed that Trump's name appeared "more than a million times" in the Epstein files, although much of this is attributed to unsubstantiated public tips—the hosts caution this number is misleading.
  • "If anybody sent an email or called the FBI at any point, even after Epstein died and said, 'hey, I think Trump killed Epstein,' boom, that would, like, go into the files." — Ryan Grim [19:54]

• Trump’s Alleged Tip-Off:

  • Redacted documents suggest Trump once called Palm Beach police to urge them to investigate Epstein, with a contemporaneous Miami Herald article backing up this claim.

5. Local Corruption: Epstein Payments at Ohio State

(21:55 - 24:29)

• Quarterly Payments to Department Head:
  • Reports surface of Epstein paying Ohio State’s OB/GYN chair, Dr. Mark Landon, $25,000 quarterly for biotech consulting.
  • Ryan connects this to the deep roots of Epstein and Leslie Wexner's operations in Ohio, including ties to the region’s power brokers.

6. Epstein, Eugenics, and Biohacking

(28:19 - 40:53)

• Epstein’s Obsession With Genetics:

  • The hosts dissect their reporting (and Dropsite’s) on Epstein’s relentless pursuit of gene therapy and eugenic projects, including dreams of “seeding the human race with his DNA.”
  • Ghislaine Maxwell helped Epstein build relationships with biotech figures like Anne Wojcicki (founder of 23andMe) and Google’s Sergey Brin.

• Designer Babies and Ukraine:

  • Epstein funded a Ukrainian biolab project led by hacker Brian Bishop to produce "designer babies," with explicit plans for anonymity around these births because "it would brand the child as … a freak for life.”

• Elite Complicity:

  • The episode details Epstein introducing and connecting elites (MIT, Bill Gates, Russian tech investors), and pursuing relationships with intelligence-connected figures.
  • "None of this would be worth talking about if this guy wasn't operating at the very upper echelons of elite global society." — Ryan Grim [38:49]

• Eugenics in Israeli Political Context:

  • The hosts quote from Epstein’s files, highlighting discussions between Epstein and Ehud Barak (former Israeli Prime Minister) regarding Israeli demographics and problematic language about “undesirable” Mizrahi and African Jews, exposing entrenched supremacist attitudes.

7. Economic “Shock” — The January Jobs Report

(43:07 - 56:07)

• Report Beats Expectations:

  • January added 130,000 jobs, unemployment hit 4.3%, private sector jobs up, government jobs down.
  • Trump administration moves to take credit, but was caught lowering expectations just before release.

• Labor Market Nuances:

  • The positive headline stats are undercut by the fact that nearly all job growth comes from health care, and in reality, jobs outside health care have shrunk.
  • "Over the last year, health care accounted for 122% of job growth. So other than health care, we have lost jobs over the last year." — Ryan Grim [48:40]
  • Economic anxiety indicators: Weak holiday sales, rising consumer delinquencies, and warnings about structural unemployment in the face of ongoing technological disruption.

• Tariffs and Economic Policy:

  • The hosts scrutinize Trump’s tariff policies—especially as they relate to building materials (lumber, drywall, etc.)—and argue that protectionism, when poorly implemented, can backfire and exacerbate supply challenges.

8. AI Revolution and The Coming Labor Shock

(56:07 - 57:42)

• Disruptive Technological Change:
  • The episode closes with warnings about generational labor shifts due to AI and automation—an influx of college graduates facing potential record unemployment rates, underpinned by trade wars and a policy climate not ready for the transformative pace of AI.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Congressional Courage:
  • "These are the first two members of Congress where I'm like, I'm kind of worried about these guys."
    — Ryan Grim on Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie (11:39)
• On Elite Blindness:
  • "Who hasn't been out on their yacht in the Caribbean and stopped in on Jeffrey Epstein's island for lunch and then forgotten about it?"
    — Ryan Grim, mocking Howard Lutnick’s testimony (17:19)
• On Systemic Media Failure:
  • "We're telling you what's actually happening … and where it fits into the story of the world."
    — Crystal Ball on independent vs. mainstream reporting (11:02)
• On Epstein's Vision:
  • "He wanted to turn his New Mexico ranch … into this Manhattan Project for basically kind of hacking the genome."
    — Ryan Grim (29:38)
• On Misleading Trump Mentions in Files:
  • "If anybody sent an email or called the FBI … and said, 'hey, I think Trump killed Epstein,' boom, that would, like, go into the files. And that doesn't actually tell us anything."
    — Ryan Grim (19:54)
• On Tariff Policy Absurdity:
  • "The brain dead part … is like, what are we gonna do, have Georgia grow maple trees and start making maple syrup?"
    — Ryan Grim (51:54)
• On AI and the Economy:
  • "You have the trade war and the AI revolution happening at the same time … and it's going to accelerate to proportions I don't think anybody fully yet understands."
    — Crystal Ball (56:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 06:00 – 13:20: Khanna & Massie expose Epstein file redactions; names revealed
• 14:51 – 18:43: Howard Lutnick’s testimony unraveling
• 18:43 – 26:46: Trump’s appearances in Epstein files and law enforcement context
• 21:55 – 24:29: Epstein’s payments to OSU OB/GYN chair
• 28:19 – 40:53: Deep dive into Epstein’s eugenics and biohacking links
• 43:07 – 56:07: Jobs report breakdown, tariff debate, consumer indicators
• 56:07 – 57:42: AI-driven labor disruption discussed

Episode Tone and Takeaways

Krystal and Ryan approach the episode with their signature blend of directness, skepticism toward elites, and witty banter—even when dealing with deeply serious subject matter. Their analysis exposes not just individuals but systemic failings, whether in government transparency, media narratives, or economic policy. This episode is a must-listen (or read) for anyone seeking insight into the confluence of political power, economic upheaval, and the dark intersections between tech, finance, and abuse at the top.

End of Summary.