No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: "New Epstein revelation undercuts Trump's DOJ"

Episode Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Brian Tyler Cohen
Notable Guests: Ro Khanna (Congressman), Don Lemon (Journalist), Dan Pfeiffer (Pod Save America co-host), Mark Warner (Senator)

Episode Overview

This episode confronts new revelations from the Epstein case files, highlighting contradictions between the Department of Justice under Trump and documented evidence of widespread co-conspirators. Brian Tyler Cohen interviews four key figures—Ro Khanna, Don Lemon, Dan Pfeiffer, and Mark Warner—delving into the cover-up allegations, justice for Epstein's survivors, government transparency, attacks on the First Amendment, the shifting political landscape in Texas, and election security risks under the Trump administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein File Revelations and DOJ Cover-Up

Time: 00:34–06:18
Speaker: Brian Tyler Cohen

• Context: Deputy AG Todd Blanche denies the existence of any additional Epstein co-conspirators.
• Revelatory Documents: Unredacted emails and prior evidence directly refute Blanche’s claims, referencing "co-conspirators" and indicating further DOJ concealment.
• Quote:

  “There’s this built in assumption that somehow... there’s this hidden tranche of information...that we’re covering up or that we’re not...choosing not to prosecute. That is not the case.” – Todd Blanche (01:16)

• Analysis:

  "If someone can explain to me why the DOJ is acting as the personal criminal defense attorney for Epstein's co-conspirators, I’m all ears." – Brian Tyler Cohen (01:33)

• Conclusion: The scale of released documents (only 50%) is damning, with serious questions about who is being protected and why.

2. Interview with Rep. Ro Khanna: Investigating the Epstein Files

Time: 06:19–22:25

• Partial Disclosure: Only half of the documents were released; what’s seen is deeply disturbing.
• Quote:

  “Imagine what is in the files that they haven’t released.” – Ro Khanna (06:52)

• High-Profile Names: Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Bill Gates, and others are implicated directly or indirectly—sometimes after Epstein’s conviction.
• Survivors Still Seeking Justice:

  “It’s not that they need closure for something that happened in the past. It’s that they are seeing...people who may have raped them or trafficked them...being lionized, celebrated, still holding power in American society.” – Ro Khanna (10:47)

• Redactions and Prosecution Barriers: Survivors hesitate to name perpetrators due to fear of lawsuits and retaliation; DOJ protects identities of wealthy men, not survivors.
• Trump-era DOJ Obstruction: Trump only signed the Epstein Transparency Act because he was forced to; every step to transparency met with resistance.

  “They tried to not release anything...they’ve resisted it every step of the way.” – Ro Khanna (18:20)

• Looking Forward: Khanna has little confidence in further releases under Trump, but courts and public pressure could force continued disclosures.

3. Don Lemon: Press Freedom under Trump’s DOJ

Time: 22:53–41:32

• Background: Don Lemon, recently arrested and released, shares insights on his ordeal and the First Amendment crisis.
• Artist and Journalist Solidarity: At the Grammys, artists openly condemned the Trump administration’s excesses.
• Quote:

  “Artists and journalists, if...corporate journalists...do some self-correction, could actually save our democracy in this moment.” – Don Lemon (24:09)

• Normalization of Repression: Arrests, lawsuits, silencing critics—host and guest agree these can’t be normalized in America.
• Legacy Media vs. Indie Media:

  “There is a big difference between how independent media operates and legacy media operates.” – Brian Tyler Cohen (40:18)

• Bipartisan Outrage: Some conservatives privately express that Lemon’s arrest is wrong, showing cracks in partisan loyalty to Trump’s tactics.
• Consequences of Apolitical Entertainment: The cultural tide has shifted: musicians and influencers are now openly anti-Trump and proud.
• Next Steps for Lemon: Will fight the charges, keep reporting, and rely on grassroots solidarity in the independent media movement.

4. Dan Pfeiffer: Texas Election Upset & Democratic Momentum

Time: 41:32–55:56

• Major Special Election Swing: Democrat wins a pro-Trump district by 14 points—a 32-point turnaround.
• Cross-Party Appeal:

  “Mathematically, the only way...is to have gotten votes and support from Republican voters and independent voters.” – Brian Tyler Cohen (42:59)

• Latino Vote Shifts: Early numbers suggest a major swing back to Democrats in heavily Latino precincts.
• Money Disparity: Republican spending dwarfed Democrat’s, but Democrats still won, highlighting deeper GOP challenges.
• Driving Factors: Trump’s chaos, ICE abuses, and growing anti-Trump sentiment energize Democrats and independents.
• Potential Democratic Overconfidence: Warns against misreading results as purely pro-Democrat—anger against Trump is a big factor.

  “The reality...is happening on the ground and it’s happening in spite of, not because of, leadership from Washington.” – Dan Pfeiffer (50:19)

• Senate Outlook: Cautious optimism for Dems in 2026 Senate, with shifting political winds in places like Texas and Florida.

5. Mark Warner: Election Security, Tulsi Gabbard, & Whistleblower Suppression

Time: 56:00–76:00

• Whistleblower Complaint Suppression:
  • Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence) failed to promptly transmit a whistleblower complaint, violating the law.
  • Warner reveals bipartisan frustration at the delay and questions Gabbard’s motivations and fitness for the role.

  • “Once I see it [the complaint], I won’t be able to talk about it...But this is the fricking law. She should have reported it to Congress within 21 days.” – Mark Warner (57:27)

• Dangerous Precedent: Worries Trump will use any pretext to undermine election legitimacy in 2026 and 2028, calling for federal takeover of elections—directly contradicting constitutional norms.
• ICE and DHS Funding Battles: Warner will not support ICE funding without significant reforms; recognizes tough tradeoffs of shutdowns but insists on guardrails.
• Normalization of Outrage: Multiple norm-shattering events (nationalizing elections, DNI interference, ICE abuses) flood the news, risking public numbness.

• Need for Organized Resistance: Pro-democracy ecosystem must maintain vigilance and pressure during key electoral periods and against further subterfuge.

  > “We gotta just keep fighting like hell.” – Mark Warner (75:58)
  

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On the DOJ’s Epstein Cover-Up:

  “If someone can explain to me why the DOJ is acting as the personal criminal defense attorney for Epstein’s co-conspirators, I’m all ears.” – Brian Tyler Cohen (01:33)

• On Partial File Releases:

  “Imagine what is in the files that they haven’t released.” – Ro Khanna (06:52)

• On the Scale of the Coverup:

  “The average American thinking...business leaders, politicians, are showing up at a pedophile’s island...It is disgusting.” – Ro Khanna (09:16)

• On Press Freedom:

  “Artists and journalists, if...corporate journalists...do some self-correcting, they could actually save our democracy in this moment.” – Don Lemon (24:09)

• On Cultural Shifts:

  “For all of those people to be so unapologetically outspoken...was a really heartening thing to see...culture would swing back to the left. ” – Brian Tyler Cohen (35:12)

• On Whistleblower Suppression and Election Security:

  “Once I see it [the complaint], I won’t be able to talk about it...But this is the fricking law. She should have reported it to Congress within 21 days.” – Mark Warner (57:27)

• On Federalizing Elections:

  “Up is down and down is up...Trump is now calling for federalization and Republicans...to take control of the election...If you’re not worried, you should be.” – Mark Warner (62:20)

Important Timestamps for Segments

• 00:34–06:18: Epstein cover-up context and document revelations (Brian Tyler Cohen monologue)
• 06:19–22:25: Ro Khanna interview—Epstein files, survivors, DOJ obstruction
• 22:53–41:32: Don Lemon interview—Press freedom, Trump’s repressive tactics, media culture shift
• 41:32–55:56: Dan Pfeiffer interview—Texas special election shock, Latino vote, national implications
• 56:00–76:00: Mark Warner interview—Whistleblower complaint, Tulsi Gabbard, election threats, ICE funding

Episode Tone & Language

• Direct, revealing, and sharply critical of government stonewalling and corruption.
• Empathetic toward survivors and those affected by government overreach.
• Collegial and candid in interviews; some exasperation and dark humor, especially when exposing the absurdity of current crises.
• Urgency and call to vigilance persist throughout, especially regarding democracy’s fragility.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode pulls no punches in exposing the depth of institutional rot surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and the Trump DOJ’s efforts to shield perpetrators. Through detailed interviews and document analysis, the podcast offers a sweeping account of the slow march toward justice, the peril posed to press freedom under Trump, and the embers of resistance flickering in electoral and civil society. It delivers must-know context on current scandals—including the weaponization of security agencies, whistleblower suppression, and credible threats to democracy—that are shaking America right now.

For in-depth news, engaging interviews, and critical analysis of the week’s political earthquakes, this is an essential episode.