Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem

Episode: Massie Just Exposed the DOJ

Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Dave Smith with Robbie “the Fire” Bernstein
Main Topic: Congressman Thomas Massie’s efforts exposing DOJ misconduct in the Epstein investigation and the ongoing, systemic elite cover-up

1. Overview: Exposing Government Corruption through the Epstein Files

Dave Smith and Robbie Bernstein analyze dramatic new developments surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case, specifically focusing on how Congressman Thomas Massie forced the Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin unredacting names of co-conspirators in the investigation. The episode explores government resistance, elite protection mechanisms, broader implications for American justice, and disturbing details about who is being shielded from accountability.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. The Unprecedented Nature of the Epstein Case

• Dave compares the Epstein saga to historical scandals (JFK, 9/11), highlighting how Epstein’s documents differ: never before has so much damning evidence been suppressed, nor so many powerful figures protected.
  • “There’s really nothing like it… There was never any debate over whether it was a conspiracy or not… But with this, they were kind of pretending nothing exists at all.” (05:00, Dave)

B. Celebrating Thomas Massie’s Breakthrough

• Dave lauds Massie’s role:
  • “Thomas Massie has single handedly exposed a scandal that seems… about 1,000 times bigger than Watergate.” (06:40, Dave)
  • Massie forced the DOJ to admit illegal redactions and begin revealing co-conspirators’ names.
• Recognition for Rep. Ro Khanna’s partnership and rare bipartisan accountability.

C. DOJ Stonewalling and Redaction Scandal

• DOJ was caught knowingly redacting names that's neither for national security nor victim protection—both the only legal exceptions.
• Example: The DOJ redacted Les Wexner (L Brands CEO) as a “co-conspirator” but left his name visible elsewhere.
  • “You’re caught red handed. Breaking the law. This is black and white, dude.” (15:47, Dave)
• Thomas Massie found six newly revealed co-conspirators in two hours, indicating a vast trove of hidden evidence.
  • “There are six men. We went in there for two hours… and in a couple of hours, we found six men whose names have been redacted who are implicated.” (12:34, Rep. Massie, audio clip)

D. The Cover-up and Deep State Panic

• DOJ’s “mistakes” are exposed by persistent Congressional attention.
• The FBI “scrubbed” files before giving them to DOJ, limiting Congressional investigators to heavily redacted documents even after legislation.
  • “They were just told: upload things that Donald Trump’s FBI had already scrubbed... The reality is Donald Trump’s FBI scrubbed these files…” (59:07, Rep. Ro Khanna, House floor)
• Dave and Robbie highlight that bureaucrats use legal technicalities and lawyered language (“not that I recall”) to dodge direct answers and potential prosecution.

E. Mass Media and Political Cowardice

• Mainstream press lags behind or bungles clear stories; CNN’s confusion about uncovered evidence is mocked.
  • “How bad is CNN at doing their jobs? Like, she’s figuring out as it’s going on.” (30:42, Dave)

F. Elite Evasion: The Lutnick Interrogation

• Howard Lutnick (Cantor Fitzgerald CEO) is grilled in Congress about his post-conviction Epstein contacts.
  • Tries to minimize contact: “The only thing I saw… was staff who worked for Mr. Epstein on that island.” (37:10, Lutnick)
  • Dave: “To say [bringing your family to Epstein's island] is substantially worse than going alone.” (39:00, Dave)
  • Lutnick caught using evasive language about whether his nanny met Epstein: “No. As far as I know.” (48:57, Lutnick)

G. Broader Social and Political Implications

• Ro Khanna makes an impassioned call for “elite accountability,” comparing US responses to UK/Norway royalty (prompt accountability) versus US culture of impunity.
  • “Are we in a country where there is no elite accountability for people who do the most heinous things?... Investigate them, prosecute them.” (61:00, Rep. Khanna)
• Discussion on the double standard for elites (“anarcho-tyranny”) who break the law and those (ordinary citizens) who get prosecuted for minor infractions:
  • “We live in this world where if any of us break the rules, we get in trouble for that… But yet Epstein and his buddies… can do anything and get away with it scot free.” (16:37, Dave)

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dave (re: Massie):
  “If we had like 300 Thomas Massie’s in Congress, we could be living in a radically different country and better country than we are today.” (04:30)
• Rep. Thomas Massie (DOJ Interview):
  “We want those names published. We’re not out to embarrass people… There are six men… whose names have been redacted who are implicated.” (12:34)
• Dave (on redactions):
  “You redacted the document that called him a co-conspirator in soliciting underage prostitution… That’s breaking the law to protect a potential predator.” (16:33)
• Robbie (on staff at Epstein’s island):
  “How come there isn’t a record of interviewing every single person that was a staff member on that island?… That seems like really good leads for uncovering [the truth].” (41:15)
• Rep. Ro Khanna (House Floor):
  “If we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files… The Justice Department said, ‘We just uploaded whatever the FBI sent us…’ And guess what? The FBI sent scrubbed files.” (58:20–60:00)
• Dave (on “lawyer coached” obfuscation):
  “This is, as everybody knows, lawyer coached language… you can say things like, ‘I do not recall.’” (49:00)

4. Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |------------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:59–06:40| Overview of Epstein files vs. other scandals | | 06:40 | Massie’s exposure: “bigger than Watergate” | | 11:14 | Massie: “six men whose names have been redacted” (clip) | | 15:47 | DOJ admits to illegal redactions | | 29:47 | Cash Patel video: misleading Congress | | 30:24 | DOJ unredacts Wexner only after being exposed| | 37:01 | Lutnick grilled about Epstein contacts | | 41:15 | Robbie on interviewing island staff | | 57:47 | Rep. Ro Khanna floor speech—broader context | | 63:00 | Dave: “we could use a president who wants to drain the swamp.” |

5. Flow & Tone

The episode is urgent, indignant, and darkly comedic as Dave and Robbie poke holes in elite rationalizations and mainstream excuses. They oscillate between forensic analysis (legal and political details), moral outrage (on elite unaccountability), and incredulous humor at the depths of the cover-up.

6. Conclusion: Why This Matters

Massie and Khanna have made a significant dent in the DOJ’s wall of secrecy, but their struggle exposes how deep elite protection runs and how little the system wants real accountability. The hosts repeatedly stress that the fight isn’t over:

• The vast majority of files are still redacted,
• The DOJ and FBI are actively subverting Congressional oversight,
• And both Republican and Democratic figures are implicated or complicit in the coverup.

As Dave puts it:
“This is why so many people care about [the Epstein story]. It’s not just that children were victimized… but the idea that these people could commit the most egregious crime imaginable and get away with it… is just so intolerable to normal people.” (63:36)

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers a rare inside look at the fight in Congress to unmask the most protected and appalling secrets in modern American political history, and demands a continued push for justice—however uncomfortable or disruptive its pursuit may be.