Part Of The Problem – "The Epstein Files"

Host: Dave Smith (B), with Rob Bernstein (C)
Date: November 20, 2025
Episode Focus: A deep dive into the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein files controversy, the political fallout around their release, the actions of key figures like Donald Trump and Thomas Massie, Israeli intelligence connections, and broader implications for American politics.

Overview

In this episode, Dave Smith and co-host Rob Bernstein break down the latest developments in the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein files saga. They dissect the political maneuvering around the files' potential release, critique the inconsistent stances of Donald Trump and Congress, explore the growing body of evidence connecting Epstein to foreign intelligence (namely Mossad), and highlight the political courage of Representative Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Drawing upon new leaks, interviews, and public statements, the hosts provide a candid libertarian perspective on corruption at the highest levels.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Context: Mishandling of the Epstein Files

• Dave summarizes Trump’s shifting positions on releasing the Epstein files, equating the drama to a catastrophic, self-inflicted political failure:

  "[Trump] was able to harness this massive cultural energy ... the Epstein stuff was one that, like, he talked about a lot. ... He then pivot[s] on a dime ... tries to do his typical thing ... It just falls flat on its face ... I mean, dude— the amount of goddamn political capital and enthusiasm that Donald Trump burnt over this issue ... he may never recover from."
  [04:36]

• Rob explains the backroom politics: Even when Trump retreated, Thomas Massie pressed forward, leveraging public sentiment and shaming his colleagues over protecting pedophiles.

  "Donald Trump did everything he could to protect whoever he was looking to protect. ... So if you want to talk about Donald Trump fumbling the ball for Thomas Massie to pick it up and go, 'No, we're not dropping this...'"
  [06:11]

• The hosts reflect on how Massie's direct appeal to colleagues – warning they’d be “on record having protected pedophiles” – seemed to move the needle and force Trump's hand.

2. Speculation: Why Was Trump Evasive?

• Rob speculates Trump’s motives: Was it to protect his own reputation, shield powerful friends, or avoid attracting the wrath of the CIA or international actors?

  "Donald Trump was uninterested in actually exposing the Epstein storyline. Now that could be because the CIA gave him a talking to... his name's casually in there enough times that he thinks it just brings bad press for him."
  [11:10]

• Dave points out Trump’s ongoing connections to Epstein up through 2018:

  "...I really did not realize how connected and how late in the game Jeffrey Epstein was still so connected in the Trump circle. ... This is in 2018. He's talking about meeting with Bannon ... This is many years after Jeffrey Epstein was popped..."
  [13:41]

• They discuss the likelihood of “embarrassing” if not incriminating, information on Trump.

3. Hard Evidence: Epstein–Mossad Links

• Dave lays out the new strong evidence for Epstein’s connection to Israeli intelligence, moving it from “overwhelming circumstantial” to directly documented via leaked emails:

  “Now we've got actual emails of him trying to connect foreign diplomats with Mossad agents, working with them on how to approach Mossad. Like, now the connection, there's actual tangible, hard evidence for this.”
  [16:24]

• They debate the blurred lines between CIA/Mossad, noting the political implications of Epstein’s multi-national kompromat operation.

4. Congressional Heroism: Thomas Massie & Marjorie Taylor Greene

• Repeated praise for Massie’s perseverance and political courage:

  "...He's stuck his neck out on the line to get this for us. And we should like ... protect Thomas Massie at all costs."
  [27:04]

• They call for listeners’ active support for Massie’s embattled reelection fight, highlighting the vindictive backlash from Trump and powerful donors.

• Marjorie Taylor Greene's unexpected role:

  "...that crazy lady turned out to be the best kind of crazy..."
  [30:41]

5. Memorable Clips: Mark Epstein Interview (Jeffrey’s Brother)

• Chris Cuomo confronts Mark Epstein about a cryptic, explicit email referring to "dirt" on Trump:

  • Mark refuses to elaborate, only asserting:

    "This is a private email between Jeffrey and myself, his two brothers talking. It's nobody's business what we wrote."
    [33:09]

  • When pressed whether Jeffrey had dirt on Trump:

    "... Jeffrey definitely had dirt on Trump. And you could see in the emails, Trump could deny it all you want, but it's pretty clear."
    [36:36]

• Dave’s reaction to Mark’s evasiveness:

  "It's a crazy ... defense. ... Now we're actually really want to know what the hell you were talking about here."
  [33:43]

• Rob’s direct critique:

  "...if there's a dead pedophile who might be able to help us uncover the other pedophiles ... and you're more interested in not tarnishing someone who already has a horrible legacy, then you're a bad guy too."
  [40:08]

6. The Files & The Political Coverup

• Mark Epstein claims the files are being sanitized to shield Republicans:

  "There's a facility in Winchester, Virginia where they're scrubbing the files to take Republican names out."
  [43:00]

• Dave and Rob agree that no matter what is ultimately released, the public will assume the most incriminating material never sees daylight:

  "Even if these files come back with no smoking gun at all, no one's going to be convinced by that because we just ... know too much about this story."
  [44:21]

7. Congressional Shenanigans: Mike Johnson and the "Political Order"

• Host reactions to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s vague but ominous rationale for opposing full disclosure:

  "He said at one point ... we need amendments to this bill to redact parts of these files. ... because it would threaten the political order."
  [46:51]

• Dave mocks the double standard:

  "What? How is a sex trafficking ring involving children tied to national security concerns? Explain to me how there's an innocent answer..."
  [47:10]

• They identify Johnson as running overt cover for Trump and the agencies, dismissing his appeals to “protect agencies” as self-serving and transparently corrupt.

8. Trump’s Public Meltdown

• Memorable Trump quote responding to a direct question about the files:

  "You are a terrible reporter. ... As far as the Epstein files is, I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert."
  [60:24]

• Dave’s take on Trump’s attitude:

  "...when your go to is just to humiliate a woman because you're insecure and defensive that you don't have a good answer. It's hard to not look at that as just an incredibly ugly quality."
  [62:20]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Donald Trump ... burned so much political capital and enthusiasm ... to then just result in supporting the release of the files ... It was such a self-inflicted wound, where, that he may never recover from, if I'm being completely honest.”
  – Dave Smith, [05:35]

• “Good on Thomas Massie—pushed it so far that Congress had to vote on it. ... He's stuck his neck out on the line to get this for us. We must protect Thomas Massie at all costs.”
  – Dave Smith, [06:11], [27:04]

• “Now we've got actual emails of [Epstein] trying to connect foreign diplomats with Mossad agents ... there's actual tangible, hard evidence for this.”
  – Dave Smith, [16:24]

• “Jeffrey told me if he said what he knew about the candidates, they'd have to cancel the election. ... Jeffrey definitely had dirt on Trump.”
  – Mark Epstein, [36:36]

• “I think it's very clear that Mike Johnson got his marching orders to try and make this disappear... Now he's still doing everything he can to try and spin it as we were the most transparent...”
  – Rob Bernstein, [50:31]

• “Donald Trump is cooked. ... The America First movement ... had better come to terms with the fact that Trump is cooked. ... We better start figuring out where we go from here.”
  – Dave Smith, [63:51]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:08] – Introduction to the Epstein files controversy, recap of recent events
• [04:36] – Dave’s breakdown of Trump’s disastrous handling of the issue
• [06:11] – Rob on the behind-the-scenes politicking, Thomas Massie’s strategy
• [11:10] – Speculation: Why Trump resisted releasing the files
• [16:24] – Hard evidence connecting Epstein to Mossad
• [27:04] – Massie and MTG credited for persistence; call to support Massie
• [33:09] – Chris Cuomo’s interview with Mark Epstein
• [43:00] – Mark Epstein alleges Republican "scrubbing" of files
• [46:51] – Congressional Speaker Mike Johnson’s ambiguous rationale for redactions
• [50:31] – Breakdown of Johnson’s and Trump’s attempts to subvert the process
• [60:24] – Trump lashes out at reporter; Dave and Rob react
• [63:51] – Dave’s conclusion: Trump’s legacy is “cooked”; future political steps

Analysis & Takeaways

• The political handling of the Epstein files has become a litmus test for the health of America's institutions and for populist movements’ integrity.
• Persistent grassroots efforts, represented by figures like Massie and Greene, can shame and force hands even in the face of overwhelming establishment pushback.
• Hard evidence now ties Epstein to Mossad, elevating the conspiracy from speculation to documented fact.
• The bipartisan eagerness to cover for agencies and shield embarrassments reveals the entrenched, cross-partisan rot of the American political establishment.
• Trump’s political instincts, usually sharp, have failed him catastrophically here—his flip-flopping, defensiveness, and evident bad faith alienated even core supporters.
• Listeners are urged to support honest public officials (notably Thomas Massie) and to stay vigilant as the fight for transparency continues.

For listeners and non-listeners alike: If you want a candid, irreverent, but well-informed analysis of the latest in the Epstein files drama—and what it says about American politics—this episode provides an unflinching overview of the players, stakes, and dirty tricks in play.