Episode Overview
Title: Bondi Names The Names… At What Cost?
Host: Hayley Caronia
Date: February 18, 2026
Theme:
Hayley Caronia delivers a sharp, unapologetic breakdown of recent political and cultural headlines, focusing especially on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s controversial release of over 300 high-profile names in the Epstein files. Hayley explores the fallout from these disclosures, media reactions (with a keen eye for double standards), and pivots into related stories on immigration, transgender violence, and progressive rhetoric. Throughout, her tone remains blunt, witty, and deeply skeptical toward mainstream narratives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Pam Bondi and the Epstein Files "BinderGate"
[00:58–05:00]
- Context: Pam Bondi, under the newly-passed Epstein Files Transparency Act, released a long-awaited list of “names”—those appearing in official documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. This includes over 300 politicians and celebrities.
- Hayley’s Take: While Bondi was compelled to release the list, Hayley criticizes both her earlier media grandstanding and the broader crusade for “transparency” that led to this mass leak.
- “None of this shitstorm would have started if it wasn't for Pam Bondi. So if it wasn't for the lies on national television and then all of the back and forth and then Trump being asked about it and wanting to move on, none of this would have happened.” — Hayley [02:45]
- Hayley warns that simply releasing names is irresponsible, as most have no evidence of wrongdoing—many were merely “cc’d on emails,” or mentioned in unrelated articles.
Notable Quote:
“You can't just release a list of names who are even associated with Epstein. People want a client list, not just a list...People want a list of people who were guilty of wrongdoing. Releasing just a list is ridiculous. But that's what Pam Bondi did.” — Hayley [03:48]
2. The Reality of the Released List
[05:00–11:00]
- How Arbitrary Was the List? Names like Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George Clooney, Alan Dershowitz, Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, and even Dan Bongino appear—not as suspects, but in contexts as minor as being cc’d on emails or mentioned in news briefings.
- “Just because you are named doesn't mean shit. There are people literally cc'd on emails... Ben Shapiro was listed on this thing...he was just cc'd on an email. That's it. No, nothing nefarious.” — Hayley [06:28]
- Hayley gives further examples: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s name appears only in news articles, Melania Trump’s name only in the context of being described as “gorgeous.”
- Even Elvis Presley appears—simply because someone sent Epstein a link to his song.
- “People's names that are named in articles, in links. Why release that? This is not what people were talking about when they wanted a ‘client list’ released, which I believe that they don't have.” — Hayley [12:28]
3. The Double Standard in Media Reactions
[14:46–17:30]
- The View Reacts: Whoopi Goldberg's panicked attempt to downplay her own mention in the files but insist Trump's name is damning.
- Joy Behar [15:24]: “So in other words, anybody can be on this stage...I'm telling you, when I tell you people are trying to turn me into...I wasn't his girlfriend. I wasn't his friend.”
- Hayley’s Retort: “Joy Behar being like, Whoopi Goldberg’s name in this list means nothing...Donald Trump being named. Even more than that. What is Joy Behar insinuating? That the more times you're mentioned...means that you're more guilty?”
- CNN and Fact-Checking: Eric Swalwell tries to smear Trump by sheer volume of mentions. CNN anchors and panels flail between fact-checking and letting innuendo stand.
- Hayley points out that speculation about Trump being Epstein’s "best friend" isn’t backed by charges.
- “Even CNN knows not to blame President Trump anymore.” [16:53]
Notable Quotes:
“Scott, are you going to let that sit? Are we going to claim here on CNN that the President is part of a global sex trafficking ring...?” — Haley quoting Scott Jennings [18:46]
4. Fallout: Retractions and Defamation
[18:30–21:45]
- Hayley recounts a CNN panel where a liberal guest (Cameron Caskey) falsely accused Trump of being involved in sex trafficking, only to be pressured into a half-hearted retraction.
- “He doesn’t believe this post. He actually believes wholeheartedly what he said on the air, but he knows that it wasn’t true.” — Hayley [20:25]
- The threat of lawsuits has “scared straight” major networks.
- “If they let lies fly on the air and don't do anything about them, especially tying President Trump to sordid child sex crimes, they will have to cough up $15 million like ABC and CBS had to do.” — Hayley [21:00]
5. Clinton Connections and Media Gymnastics
[22:09–27:37]
- Hayley plays a Hillary Clinton clip where Clinton dodges about her connections to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, contrasting “charity work” with “no links.”
- “To argue that there's no link, though, is a blatant lie. And Jeffrey Epstein had a painting of a certain someone, a certain former president in Monica Lewinsky's blue dress in his house. And I will give you a hint. It was not President Trump.” — Hayley [23:53]
- On Chelsea Clinton’s claim that she left church at six over abortion:
- “I will take things that never happened for 400, Alex...Why would she even know what that is if not for her family...?” — Hayley [26:49]
6. Immigration and Media Hysteria
[30:04–37:04]
- Hayley slams Joaquin Castro and Jim Acosta for spotlighting the deportation of a family with an infant, accusing them of creating martyrs while ignoring facts around health care and deportation, and notes the circular outrage: Democrats were once outraged over family separation, now complain about families being deported together.
- “All of this could have been avoided if they had come here legally, obviously.” — Hayley [31:38]
- Throws back to Tom Homan's evisceration of AOC’s argument on family separation, emphasizing that consequences apply to all:
- “When you're in the country illegally, it's Violation 8, United States Code 1325.” — Tom Homan [35:06]
- “If you break code, you are going to be held accountable. Right?” — Hayley [36:05]
7. Progressive Rhetoric on Race and Privilege
[37:15–39:39]
- Hayley mocks a viral AOC clip on “white supremacy,” pointing out the inner contradictions of intersectionality (“even if you’re black but lighter-skinned, you benefit from white supremacy”).
- “It seems to me like nobody's really benefiting from white supremacy. Not even black people. Not even, like, they're unraveling.” — Hayley [38:35]
8. Trans Activism, Violence, and Media Caution
[39:45–52:45]
-
A Transgender Shooter: Hayley details the coverage of a mass shooting by a transgender individual in Rhode Island, mocking law enforcement and the New York Times for their convoluted language to avoid stating the obvious.
- "If the guy goes by two names and one of the names is female. Let's put two and two together here.” — Hayley [42:45]
- She notes the double standard: quick reporting on the “straight white man” label; hesitation and hedging in cases involving trans perpetrators.
-
Mental Health Angle:
“No man in their right mind, no sane person is cross dressing in real life...a lot of these transgender individuals are mentally ill and they are violent. They become violent.” — Hayley [47:52]- Screenshots show the shooter warning about “going berserk” if “bashed,” tying rhetoric to real-world violence.
-
Democrat Defense: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal claims critics are simply “jealous” of trans people.
- “Those who fight against trans people are just jealous of the freedom that they have taken to be fully who they are.” — Jayapal [52:33]
- Hayley’s retort: “Yes, we're all just jealous of trans people who are mentally ill, and they render themselves undateable and undesirable for the rest of their lives.” [52:42]
9. Viral Videos and Social Commentary
[53:41–57:00]
- Two viral clips illustrate Hayley’s point about trans “rage” and delusion:
- One features a hostile confrontation with a male-presenting trans individual, which Hayley dubs “the epitome of boys will be boys.” [54:43]
- Another involves a trans-identifying man claiming to have “periods,” with Hayley eviscerating the biological impossibility and linking trans identity to sexual fetishism and mental illness.
- “He doesn't have the organ that is cramping...Maybe he needs to take a shit.” — Hayley [57:01]
10. Protests and Youth Indoctrination
[60:53–end]
- Hayley shares social media responses to a student anti-ICE protest, highlighting an avalanche of anti-protest, pro-ICE, and tongue-in-cheek sign suggestions.
- “The best option would be to not protest at all and just stay in school and learn real things that would help you in real life.” — Hayley [61:15]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On List-Releasing:
“People's names that are named in articles, in links. Why release that? This is not what people were talking about when they wanted a ‘client list’ released, which I believe that they don't have.” — Hayley [12:28] -
On Double Standards:
“I just think it's hilarious that all the ladies on the View, they're saying, you know, Whoopi Goldberg, you're fine...But even CNN knows not to blame President Trump anymore.” — Hayley [16:53] -
On Progressive Contradictions:
“It seems to me like nobody's really benefiting from white supremacy. Not even black people...the more that you guys talk about this, the more that you're making absolutely no sense and you're debunking your own thought.” — Hayley [38:30] -
On Trans Activism and Mental Health:
“No man in their right mind, no sane person is cross dressing in real life...And unfortunately, you just have Democrats that are holding the line. They are holding the line for these transgender people.” — Hayley [47:52] -
On Protests:
“The best option would be to not protest at all and just stay in school and learn real things that would help you in real life.” — Hayley [61:15]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Pam Bondi & Epstein Files — 00:58–12:00
- Media Double Standards: The View, CNN — 14:46–21:45
- Clinton’s Responses — 22:09–27:37
- Immigration Outrage & Family Separation — 30:04–37:04
- Race, Intersectionality Rhetoric — 37:15–39:39
- Transgender Shooter, Law Enforcement Reaction — 39:45–52:45
- Viral Clips – Trans Rage & Delusion — 53:41–57:00
- Youth Protests & Social Media Backlash — 60:53–end
Closing Thoughts
Hayley Caronia’s episode pulls no punches in critiquing the superficiality, hypocrisy, and sometimes destructive results of modern progressive activism, with a particular focus on media complicity and selective outrage. Through sharp analysis and biting humor, Hayley exposes how calls for ‘transparency’ and ‘justice’ are weaponized—and how ordinary people become collateral damage in the culture war crossfire. This episode offers a conservative’s summary and counter-narrative to the day’s most controversial stories, all with Hayley’s trademark blend of bluntness, wit, and skepticism.