No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen

Episode: Trump’s Epstein File Release Botched Beyond Repair
Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Brian Tyler Cohen
Guests: Rep. Ro Khanna, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Episode Overview

This episode covers the botched release of the Epstein files by the DOJ and the ensuing bipartisan outrage. Brian dives into the political implications and transparency failures around the release, then speaks with key political figures: Rep. Ro Khanna on DOJ non-compliance and impeachment, Sen. Bernie Sanders on ACA subsidies and healthcare reform, Rep. Jasmine Crockett about her Senate race in Texas, and Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Democrats’ legislative victories over Speaker Mike Johnson. The episode blends policy, political strategy, and pointed criticism of both the Trump administration and broader government accountability.

Main Story: The Transparancy Crisis in the Botched Epstein File Release

Key Points & Insights

• Partial Release & Cover-up Accusations

  • The DOJ missed the deadline for releasing all Epstein files, producing only about 10% and heavily redacted documents. ([00:01])
  • By the weekend, some released files—including a photo of Trump, Melania, Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell—were rescinded, interpreted as evidence of a cover-up to protect Trump.
  • Brian notes the irony and political fallout: Trump’s efforts to suppress the files only fuel suspicion and dominate news cycles, hurting his reputation and political capital.

• Notable Moment

  • "Every day we're talking about this, we're not talking about what he wants to talk about...the only logical explanation is that what's hidden in those files is somehow worse than the daily barrage of everyone assuming the worst anyway." — Brian Tyler Cohen ([02:30])

• Unique Bipartisan Split

  • Unlike most Trump scandals, there’s no partisan insulation here: nearly every Republican in Congress backed the bill demanding file release, with notable defections and resignations (Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns, Lauren Boebert resists Trump pressure).

• Political Fallout

  • Right-wing influencers and Trump loyalists are humiliated; Republicans and conservative media join Democratic criticism over the cover-up.
  • "If Trump thinks that he's gonna benefit from the usual, like, reductive partisan allegiances, he's in for a really rude awakening." — Brian Tyler Cohen ([04:40])

Interview: Rep. Ro Khanna on DOJ Non-Compliance & Impeachment

Key Topics

• Reaction to Partial Release

  • Deep disappointment and sadness for survivors expecting closure.
  • Most relevant documents (indictment drafts, prosecution memos, files on Epstein’s computers) withheld or redacted.
  • "Documents totally redacted. None of the key things actually released...draft indictment, prosecution memo—those documents that would show who were the other rich and powerful men who abused these young girls or covered it up." — Rep. Ro Khanna ([06:28])

• Drafting Articles of Impeachment

  • Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie are preparing impeachment articles for AG Pam Bondi and Blanchard; will act if DOJ continues to stall.

• Violation of Law

  • The DOJ created a new, illegal standard to redact names of officials, directly violating the Epstein Transparency Act, which prohibits withholding for embarrassment or reputational harm. ([09:36])

• Calls for Accountability

  • Emphasizes the country’s anger at “elite impunity” and a justice system perceived as protecting the powerful.
  • "People say, well, he was dead years ago. Well, it matters because people are sick of two tiers of justice in this country. They're sick of an elite that gets away with even things like raping young girls." — Ro Khanna ([10:55])

• Options for Recourse

  • Public opinion, further litigation, congressional action, and survivor lawsuits are avenues; Ro calls for a constitutional amendment ending presidential pardon power.
  • "Yes, I want healing and reconciliation after Trump's gone, but I want accountability too." — Ro Khanna ([13:21])

• Bipartisan Action

  • Notes unusual crossover: “prominent MAGA influencers” calling for impeachment; Republicans joining the call.

• Memorable Exchange

  • Brian highlights Ro’s leadership: "Your discharge petition in the House was the first instance of even Republicans defying this president." ([17:03])

Interview: Senator Bernie Sanders on ACA, Healthcare, and Systemic Reform

Key Topics

• ACA Subsidy Extension Roadblocks

  • Republican House and Senate resistance threatens 24 million Americans' access to healthcare ([19:54])
  • Notes political risks for Republicans, especially those from vulnerable districts.

• Healthcare System Unsustainability

  • Cites COVID’s impact and recent cuts as making Americans more willing to consider single-payer systems.
  • "Covid...made people thinking, hmm, should healthcare simply be part of my job as opposed to a basic right?" — Bernie Sanders ([22:20])

• Medicare for All Proposal

  • Four-year phase-in: Medicare drops from 65 to all ages, eliminates out-of-pocket costs, adds dental, vision, hearing.
  • Highlights U.S. costs: $15k/person/year, double other developed countries with worse health outcomes.

• Quote on Systemic Failure

  • "If you bought a car for $40,000 and I bought a car for $80,000, and your car worked better… I got ripped off, right? That is the story. This system is wildly expensive." — Bernie Sanders ([24:40])

• How to Pay for It

  • Savings would come from streamlining administration, negotiating drug prices—no new spending required.
  • Argues it’s a matter of will, not feasibility: "We don't have to spend a nickel more, and we can provide health care to every man, woman, and child in this country. That's the simple truth of the matter." ([29:03])

• Broader Systematic Issues

  • Criticizes the American system for serving the wealthy: "…literally poisoning our kids with junk food to make increased profits, housing, etc. So what we need is leadership…to improve life for all people, not just the 1%." ([33:00])

Interview: Rep. Jasmine Crockett on Her Texas Senate Run and National Issues

Key Topics

• Trump’s Tone-Deaf Response to Rob Reiner Killing

  • Trump’s reaction—blaming “Trump Derangement Syndrome”—called inappropriate, insensitive, and indicative of troubling leadership.
  • "I don't really even understand the moment that we're in where it is acceptable for any leader...to make it about himself and basically just dance over his grave." — Jasmine Crockett ([35:04])

• Campaign Motivation

  • Entered the race as a “calling,” driven by a lack of investment and organizing from Democrats in Texas.
  • Legal background and prior work on voting rights, veterans, and reproductive legislation cited as qualifications.

• Strategy for Winning Texas

  • Focus on engaging non-voters and energizing new participants, rather than converting Republican voters.
  • "We're not turning away anyone who wants better access to health care...But...we're making our investments into those people that haven't been talked to." ([43:47])
  • Tells a compelling story of a young Black non-voter, now excited to vote: proof-of-concept for the campaign’s approach ([44:15]).

• Primary Differentiation

  • Cites federal experience—“it's different when you're in the ring”—ability to build diverse coalitions, and strong national support as distinguishing factors over rival James Talarico.

• Republican Responses to Her Entry

  • Notes Republicans’ fear and psychological tactics aiming to unsettle the Democratic field, emphasizing the threat she poses as a candidate with high name ID and broad appeal.

Interview: Leader Hakeem Jeffries on House Legislative Wins

Key Topics

• House Democrats’ Legislative Successes

  • Details the latest discharge petition to force a vote on ACA tax credits—four Republican signees broke with leadership.
  • “Now it's Mike Johnson's responsibility to bring this bill to the floor.” — Hakeem Jeffries ([54:12])

• Urgency of ACA Vote

  • Lays out the technicalities: Waiting until the 7-day limit means people will have already paid high premiums; urges Johnson not to delay.
  • Critiques Republicans’ ongoing attacks on Medicaid, the CDC, NIH, FDA: “This is a Republican health care crisis." ([55:26])

• Republican Healthcare Plans Dispelled

  • Jeffries exposes the emptiness behind Johnson’s promises and Republican “junk insurance”: “Everyday Americans will be required to pay premiums, but they're not going to get any health care coverage as a result.” ([57:11])

• Loss of GOP Control & Trump’s Shadow

  • Johnson is acting as a proxy for Trump; Democrats have advanced more discharge petitions (forcing votes against House GOP leadership wishes) than in the previous 30 years combined.
  • “Control has been lost…Democrats have successfully advanced a discharge petition…He's lost control of the House of Representatives. Donald Trump knows it because Donald Trump himself has said he has two jobs and two titles. President and speaker of the House.” — Hakeem Jeffries ([60:51])

• Winds of Change

  • Republicans, including Indiana’s legislators and multiple GOP House members, are breaking from Trump.
  • Jeffries notes the MAGA “emperor has no clothes” moment and predicts further Democratic wins, fueled by public rejection of Republican extremism.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Transparency and Power

  • "They are not trying to be transparent. They are protecting someone...rich and influential people who were friends with the president or know the president or have some hold on our government." — Ro Khanna ([07:50])

• Healthcare System as a Rigged Game

  • "This system is fundamentally broken and we cannot just tinker around the edges." — Bernie Sanders ([22:50])

• Grassroots Power and New Strategies

  • "You got to have people to be excited for something and someone. And I think that's something that we bring." — Jasmine Crockett ([44:08])

• On Republican Defections

  • "They've come to the conclusion that this so-called MAGA emperor has no clothes. It's been exposed." — Hakeem Jeffries ([62:33])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Epstein File Release Commentary: [00:01]–[05:47]
• Rep. Ro Khanna Interview: [05:47]–[18:23]
• Sen. Bernie Sanders Interview: [19:52]–[34:11]
• Rep. Jasmine Crockett Interview: [34:14]–[53:22]
• Leader Hakeem Jeffries Interview: [53:25]–[64:06]

Episode Tone:

Candid, urgent, and indignant—focused on exposing hypocrisy, uplifting bipartisanship on transparency, and energizing Democratic activism.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This episode is essential for understanding the bipartisan breakdown over the Epstein file debacle, the continuing battle for healthcare justice, and the tectonic shifts in Congressional politics. Brian Tyler Cohen’s interviews cut through spin, revealing both deep policy stakes and the political maneuvering reshaping 2025’s national landscape.