Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

Episode Summary – February 18, 2026

Main Topics: Hillary Clinton’s response to Epstein ties, Israeli government’s Epstein surveillance, Trump administration’s Iran/Iran deal maneuvering, new U.S. strikes on alleged narco-trafficking boats, and the elite accountability crisis.

Overview

This episode delivers a fearless, detailed breakdown of several major stories frequently omitted or softened by establishment media. Krystal Ball and Ryan Grim (co-hosting while Saagar is off) lead with a fresh trove of Jeffrey Epstein revelations, hold the powerful to account—including a heated examination of Hillary Clinton’s public denials and new forensic evidence tying Israeli official surveillance to Epstein's activities. The show pivots to global hotspots: Iran negotiations, Gaza, and a critical look at the normalization of Trump-era U.S. drone strikes on boats, all colored by the hosts' signature blend of dry wit and no-nonsense analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein & Elite Accountability

(03:13–22:16)

• New Reporting on Epstein and Israeli Surveillance

  • Ryan Grim teases out his original journalism: The Israeli government, through its UN Permanent Mission, installed surveillance equipment at Epstein's East 66th Street apartment for years, citing frequent stays by former Israeli PM Ehud Barak as the rationale.
  • “If any guests went in and out of the Epstein apartment, they had to run them through the Israeli consulate.” – Ryan Grim (04:13)
  • Barak’s close relationship with Epstein is further exposed by surveillance measures extending to rigorous guest vetting.
  • Emails also link Israeli intelligence figures and broader elite networks to the apartment.

• Epstein’s Business Network and Influence

  • Epstein and Barak “flipped” contacts from Nigerian surveillance deals (ostensibly for humanitarian reasons) into lucrative port security agreements for Dubai Ports World, via facial recognition derived from tech trialed in Gaza—a notable intersection of public and corporate interests.

• Elite Culture of Impunity

  • Tom Pritzker, billionaire executive chairman of Hyatt, steps down citing Epstein connections. Emails reveal banter about grooming girls and organizing suspect trips.
  • “We allowed this world to be created where you have this ecosystem of people who operate above accountability and with impunity.” – Ryan Grim (19:14)
  • The hosts emphasize that the Epstein scandal is symptomatic of elite rot, not an isolated incident.

2. Hillary Clinton’s Response to Epstein Questions

(07:03–14:21)

• Clinton, at the Munich Security Conference, claims “we have no links” to Epstein—only for her to immediately correct herself, referencing Bill Clinton’s flight records and Ghislaine Maxwell's involvement.
  • Quote: “We have no links. We have a very clear record that we’ve been willing to talk about…” – Hillary Clinton (07:31)
• Krystal and Ryan do a real-time fact check:
  • Photos, emails, and collaborative charity efforts disprove Clinton’s minimization of ties.
  • “If you look at the pictures from their travels, it wasn’t just some hands-off…No, they were literally touring around together. Standing next to each other...” – Krystal Ball (10:26)
• The hosts dissect elite deflection, noting Clinton’s complaints about being “singled out” while attention is diverted from others implicated (e.g., Prince Andrew).
  • “She fact checked herself. Immediately afterwards…” – Ryan Grim (09:21)
• The conversation broadens: Congressional theater vs. pursuing real institutional accountability (banks, deeper subpoenas), per Rep. Thomas Massie’s critique.

3. New Developments: Israeli Government Surveillance in Epstein’s Orbit

(24:43–39:34)

• Deep-dive into DropSite’s findings:
  • The Israeli government took charge of security at Epstein’s apartment due to Barak’s lengthy stays, installing alarms and surveillance well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
  • “According to emails…anybody who wanted to go into the apartment had to have a background check and had to be cleared by the Israeli government.” – Ryan Grim (24:56)
  • Details implicate an Israeli intelligence web using properties controlled by Epstein (and his brother).
• Larger implications for state vs. extra-state activity:
  • The tight collaboration of Israel’s intelligence, business, and military/industrial sectors undermines the notion of clean state/non-state boundaries.
  • “There’s basically no membrane [between Israeli intelligence and the cyber/weapons industries]…” – Ryan Grim (37:47)

4. Trump, Iran, and Middle East Policy

(42:16–58:35)

• Iran Nuclear Negotiations
  • U.S. and Iran reportedly settle "guiding principles" for a deal, but public statements by Trump undercut credibility.
  • “It’s got to be a good deal: no nuclear weapons, no missiles, no this, no that, all the different things that you want.” – Donald Trump, as quoted by Ryan Grim (45:40)
  • Trump’s contradictory posture—sending envoys for negotiation while massing military force—creates confusion for both allies and adversaries.
• Gaza Ceasefire & Disarmament Talks
  • Trump sends Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Geneva for talks paralleling the Iran discussions.
  • Krystal notes Trump’s reliance on Kushner and Witkoff “to put together grand goals that can be marketed as major wins for peace, world peace.” (51:07)
  • Hamas reportedly refuses unilateral disarmament, willing only to discuss in the context of a broader Palestinian security authority.
  • “Hamas is saying, we’re not just going to disarm and allow the Israelis to come in and massacre us.” – Ryan Grim (52:22)

5. US Boat Strikes: The Normalization of Drone Warfare

(61:08–71:56)

• Recent Boat Strikes in the War on Drugs
  • U.S. military (Southern Command) claims three lethal "narco-terrorist" boat strikes, kills 11. The hosts scrutinize official justifications and the lack of due process.
  • “They’re just blowing them up. Once again.” – Krystal Ball (62:34)
  • Binocular-based Coast Guard stops get it wrong one-third of the time, so why trust distant drone operators?
  • “If the Coast Guard, which has been doing this for decades and can do it from the sea, is getting it wrong one out of three times, why do we think Pete Hegseth doing it as a video game is gonna get it right 100% of the time?” – Ryan Grim (64:09)
  • Legal rationale for such strikes is further demolished by the recent regime change in Venezuela—the prior justification being direct Venezuelan state sponsorship of narco-terrorism.
  • “Now… we pulled out our rationale for these strikes and continue the strikes anyway because we do not care.” – Ryan Grim (70:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We allowed this world to be created where you have this ecosystem of people who operate above accountability and with impunity." – Ryan Grim [19:14]
• "She fact checked herself. Immediately afterwards, she's like, we have no links. Well, my husband took some rides on his plane as part of his charitable work." – Ryan Grim [09:21]
• "If you look at the pictures from their travels, it wasn’t just some hands-off…No, they were literally touring around together. Standing next to each other..." – Krystal Ball [10:26]
• "According to emails…anybody who wanted to go into the apartment had to have a background check and had to be cleared by the Israeli government." – Ryan Grim [24:56]
• "There’s basically no membrane [between Israeli intelligence and the cyber/weapons industries]…" – Ryan Grim [37:47]

Timestamps – Key Segments

• Epstein New Revelations & Israeli Surveillance – 03:13 to 22:16
• Hillary Clinton’s BBC Interview & Fact-Check – 07:03 to 14:21
• Tom Pritzker Resignation & Elite Accountability – 14:35 to 22:16
• Dropsite Investigation: Israeli Tech/Surveillance in Nigeria & UAE – 24:43 to 39:34
• Trump’s Iran Policy, Gaza Ceasefire, and War Drums – 42:16 to 58:35
• US Drone Boat Strikes & Normalization of Extrajudicial Actions – 61:08 to 71:56

Tone and Style

The hosts’ approach is at once wry and incisive, mixing dark comedic asides (“No water, too. I just, I don’t think I could do it [Ramadan].”) with serious, forensic analysis of government and elite abuses. They lean on thorough reporting, fact-checking in real time, and ask rhetorical questions meant to cut through PR spin and official deflection.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is essential listening if you want to understand how elite impunity, state secrecy, and evolving U.S. foreign policy interconnect. It’s peppered with exclusive reporting (especially on Israel-Epstein links and surveillance tech), sharp debunking of establishment narratives, and a running critique of how "the Epstein Class" continues to act outside consequence. The podcast remains resolutely anti-establishment, providing rare insight into stories often ignored, diminished, or sanitized elsewhere.