Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem – "Pam Bondi is Cooked"

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Dave Smith (A), Co-host: Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein (B)
Topic: The fallout and testimony of Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Epstein files, the Trump DOJ’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein materials, and the broader implications for government accountability, corruption, and libertarian politics.

Episode Overview

This explosive episode focuses on Pam Bondi’s congressional testimony regarding the handling and redaction of the Epstein files. Dave and Rob dissect not only the spectacle of Bondi’s performance—frequent pivots, stonewalling, and insults—but also the substance of the allegations: the apparent cover-up within the Trump DOJ of major co-conspirators and child sexual abuse evidence, the political and media response, and the implications for the Trump administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pam Bondi’s Testimony: Legendary Meltdown

• Dave Smith sets the stage: Bondi, defending the DOJ’s redactions and handling of the Epstein files in Congress, was widely seen as deflecting, stalling, and stonewalling.
  • “It really was unlike anything I've ever seen before. You were kind of wondering as it was approaching, what can she possibly say here? … they lied their ass off. It's been proven that they lied.” (A, 03:11)
• Robbie calls foul: Bondi's evasion was masterful in a cynical sense, filling time, hurling insults, and avoiding yes/no answers.
  • “I've never seen somebody stall and criticize the person who was asking questions, refuse to give the yes, no answers... and then just fill as much time as possible with diversions.” (B, 04:34)

2. The Viral Moment: Stock Market Pivot

• Pam Bondi responds to grilling about the Epstein coverup by touting stock market highs (09:09):
  • Pam Bondi: “The Dow right now is over $50,000... Americans 401ks and retirement savings are booming. And that's what we should be talking about.”
• Dave & Rob react with incredulity:
  • “What does that have to do with anything? …this is a hearing on Jeffrey Epstein. And you, ma'am, are the Attorney General. What are you talking about?” (A, 09:50)
  • “She just comes off like an absolutely raging lunatic and pivoting from... I'm going to campaign for Donald Trump and talk about what we should be. Well that's not what this is about. Nor is that your job.” (B, 10:35)

3. Systemic Corruption Across Administrations

• Both hosts highlight that Epstein cover-ups cross party lines and administrations.
  • “This cover up spans decades and you are responsible for this portion of it.” (Thomas Massie, 35:10)
• Dave’s libertarian insight:
  • “You have one political party in Washington, D.C. … when it comes to the 25 things that matter the most, there's one party.” (A, 62:41)

4. Thomas Massie vs. Pam Bondi: Grilling on Redactions

• Massie exposes DOJ missteps:
  • DOJ released the names of victims requesting anonymity, and redacted only the one Epstein document naming Les Wexner as a child sex trafficking co-conspirator.
    • (Massie’s main segment: 22:09 – 24:38)
  • “It's an awfully big coincidence… the only time he was redacted is when he's called a co conspirator to child sex trafficking.” (A, 32:07)
• Bondi’s replies:
  • Repeats “Wexner's name is in the files 4,000 times” (C, 30:09), but avoids direct responsibility.
  • Throws personal insults: “You’re a failed politician.” (C, 34:32).

5. Intentional Harm to Victims

• Rob speculates DOJ tactic: releasing victims’ names may have been a calculated move—to argue release is too risky, slow transparency, or even intimidate whistleblowers.
  • “I think the releasing of victims names was intentional...That gives them a little bit of cover to go ‘Yeah, we are inept, that's why we made these [mistakes].’” (B, 26:04)

6. The DOJ’s Unaccountable Power Tools

• Rob flags: DOJ tracked which Congress members looked for which names in the files; shows the government has immense AI surveillance and monitoring capabilities. (B, 16:19)

7. Trump and GOP Response: Full-throated Defense

• Donald Trump’s reaction (quoted by Dave at 43:47):
  • “AG Pam Bondi, under intense fire...was fantastic at yesterday’s hearing… Loser, sanctimonious, rhino Congressman Thomas Massie made a total fool of himself…”
• Dave comments:
  • “If you watch that and you stand by your Justice Department and their efforts and the way that she behaved and think that this is the way government should operate… you're involved in this cover up.” (A, 45:50)
• Rob’s sharp assessment:
  • “The only reason to behave in this way is because you engaged in a coverup.” (B, 39:08)
  • “I just don't believe that anyone watched this and went, you know what? Nothing to see here.” (B, 48:11)

8. Victim Testimony Bombshell

• Dan Goldman (Democrat) brings out the most damning evidence:
  • Asks all victims present if they’d ever been contacted by the DOJ or allowed to submit testimony—all raise hands that they were ignored or rebuffed.
  • “And of those of you who have not met, which is everyone, how many of you have reached out either individually or through a lawyer or representative to offer to provide testimony and evidence?” (Goldman, 66:54)
  • “All of them. And... How many of you were denied or ignored by the Department of Justice? All of them.” (Goldman, 67:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Pam Bondi’s Evasions and Meltdowns

• “You're acting like everybody's trying to cover up Wexner’s name.” (C, 31:56)
• “You have Trump derangement syndrome. He’s a failed politician!” (C, 34:23)
• “You're about as good of a lawyer today as you were when you tried to impeach President Trump in 2016. Have you apologized for that in 2019?” (C, 61:46)
• “Privileged.” (C, 62:00 – repeated as non-answers to document release questions)

Critical Analysis by Hosts

• “It’s the, it's the, it's basically an admission of guilt here.” (A, 54:15)
• “This administration is a complete fucking, total failure. Just disgraceful.” (A, 68:10)
• “You just gotten us more outraged about it... we want you to stop what's going on in the room.” (B, 52:36, on DOJ releasing files but not ending abuse)

Important Timestamps

• 09:09 – Bondi pivots to stock market brag, viral moment.
• 22:09 – 24:38 – Thomas Massie lays out the direct evidence of DOJ cover-up.
• 29:46 – 36:06 – Massie confronts Bondi, she evades with non-sequiturs and insults.
• 54:42 – 66:44 – Discussion of congressional reactions, especially Democrat Dan Goldman, climaxing with victim testimony.
• 66:54 – 68:10 – Goldman asks survivors to stand and demonstrate DOJ apathy/hostility toward victims.

Overall Tone

• Highly critical, sardonic, and incredulous—hosts openly mock Bondi’s responses, lambast the Trump Justice Department, and express outrage at the bipartisan establishment cover-up.
• Hosts remain true to a libertarian critique—pointing out the “one-party” nature of DC on war, surveillance, and corruption.
• Frequent humor and pop-culture analogies to underline the surreal nature of Bondi’s stonewalling (e.g., Seinfeld’s George Costanza, South Park).

Final Thoughts

• Dave Smith’s closing: “Pam Bondi is cooked and you guys just… There’s no defending this, man. This administration is a complete fucking, total failure. Just disgraceful.” (68:10)
• Rob Bernstein: “That moment right there just reeks a cover-up…Tell me that they're interested in investigating and actually looking into this after that moment.” (69:00)

For Listeners:

If you missed the episode, this is a comprehensive indictment of how the Trump DOJ handled the Epstein files—exposed not only by Democrats, but most scathingly by principled voices like Thomas Massie, with Bondi’s testimony laying bare the depth of institutional rot, political cynicism, and the moral bankruptcy of those in power. The hosts pull no punches: this is not a partisan critique, but a libertarian call for true accountability—against all odds.