Post Reports Episode Summary: "Trump keeps trying — and failing — to move on from Epstein"

Release Date: July 25, 2025

Hosts: Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi
Guests: Colby Ikowicz, Cleve Woodson (White House Reporter), Khadija Goba (Congressional Reporter)

1. Introduction: The Persistent Shadow of Epstein

In this episode of Post Reports, hosts Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi delve into the enduring political turbulence surrounding former President Donald Trump's associations with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. The discussion centers on how Trump's continuous efforts to divert attention from the Epstein scandal are falling short, leaving both the Republican Party and his base grappling with the fallout.

2. Trump’s Relationship with Epstein and Ongoing Investigations

Cleve Woodson (White House Reporter) provides a comprehensive overview of the Trump-Epstein connection, emphasizing the persistent media scrutiny and congressional investigations.

"Trump is just a master at understanding, like, camera angles and dramatics and arc. And the problem with, like, this moment is that he's kind of using everything that he and the press office can do to try to deflect or distract or whatever, and it's just not working."
— Cleve Woodson (00:08)

The conversation highlights a recent Wall Street Journal report revealing Trump's name in several Epstein-related documents, including an alleged birthday note featuring a sketch of a naked woman and a reference to a “wonderful secret,” which Trump denies authoring.

3. Congressional Response and Republican Paralysis

Khadiya Goba (Congressional Reporter) discusses the Republican Party's internal struggles to address the Epstein issue. As pressure mounts from both Democrats and certain Republican members to release Epstein-associated files, Speaker Mike Johnson has opted to send Congress home early for a summer recess to avoid further escalation.

"Democrats are exploiting the idea of Epstein or the Republican base being really mad about Epstein. So they're putting forward these amendments and all kind of motions that essentially force Republicans to vote either in favor or against releasing the files."
— Khadiya Goba (04:00)

Notably, a bipartisan push saw Representative Tim Burchett introduce a measure to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, which passed unanimously, compelling Republican members to publicly support the release of the files.

4. Trump’s Distractive Tactics and Their Ineffectiveness

After a brief hiatus marked by advertisements and non-content segments, the discussion resumes with Cleve Woodson outlining Trump’s recent strategies to shift focus away from the Epstein scandal. These include:

• Releasing MLK Assassination Files: On Monday, the administration declassified documents related to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, appealing to conspiracy theorists and diverting attention.

  "If you're a conspiracy theorist, as some of his followers are, you know, the trove of data about this assassination is just sort of catnip."
  — Cleve Woodson (12:36)

• Tulsi Gabbard’s Briefing Room Appearance: Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, now Trump's Director of National Intelligence, presented a graphic alleging President Obama’s involvement in a “seditious coup” against Trump, complete with visual conspiracy cues.

  "It was like a surprise. You know, the blue door opens, Tulsi emerges, and then she kind of talks to us for 15 minutes about this stuff."
  — Cleve Woodson (13:00)

• Confrontation with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell: Trump criticized Jerome Powell’s monetary policies in a highly publicized visit to the Federal Reserve, attempting to redirect public discourse to economic concerns.

  "He's taken a historic visit for president to, you know, two minutes away to the Fed to talk about the, the cost overruns and to sort of demand, but not demand that, that Powell lower interest rates."
  — Cleve Woodson (14:40)

• Stoking Culture Wars: Efforts to reignite cultural debates, such as advocating for the Washington Commanders to revert to their former name, aim to energize his base with familiar controversies.

  "He's just trying everything to get his base, like riled up about all these old greatest hits."
  — Cleve Woodson (15:26)

Despite these maneuvers, these distractions have largely failed to divert substantial attention from the Epstein investigations.

5. Impact on the MAGA Base and Republican Cohesion

The episode explores the emerging rift within the Republican Party, where some members are feeling compelled to address the Epstein allegations, challenging Trump's previously unassailable support base.

"This is shaking the fundamental bedrock of the MAGA movement, and that is very, very concerning to Trump and anybody that stands to benefit from Trump's."
— Cleve Woodson (08:47)

Khadiya Goba notes that while the economy remains a primary concern for voters, the Epstein scandal brings an unavoidable focus on transparency issues, complicating Republicans' messaging and policy priorities.

"Some of these Republicans ran on the issue of transparency and specifically the Epstein files. So it's a little difficult to convince people that you're being transparent or honest with them about the economy when you can't deliver something as easy as the Epstein files."
— Khadiya Goba (09:54)

Cleve Woodson adds that while the broader electorate might not be deeply engaged with the Epstein case, the most vocal and dedicated Trump supporters are significantly affected, potentially undermining Trump's image as an "everyman" outsider.

"It may be collapsing... the fallout from that sea change of Donald Trump is just another rich guy, politician, powerful person, as opposed to somebody that is like me."
— Cleve Woodson (21:18)

This shift could have profound implications for the unity and future of the MAGA movement, as loyalty could waver when faced with controversial associations.

6. Conclusion: Unresolved Tensions and Future Implications

The episode concludes with an acknowledgment that the Epstein scandal is far from being eclipsed by Trump's attempts at redirection. The combined pressures from investigative journalism, congressional actions, and shifting public perceptions suggest that the Epstein issue will remain a significant political battleground in the foreseeable future.

"He's no longer like Teflon Don, so to speak. He's like, I don't know, like old rusted cast iron pot that eggs stick to Don."
— Cleve Woodson (16:06)

As Republicans navigate these turbulent waters, the episode leaves listeners contemplating the long-term effects on party cohesion, Trump's legacy, and the broader landscape of American politics.

Notable Quotes:

• Cleve Woodson (00:08): "Trump is just a master at understanding, like, camera angles and dramatics and arc..."

• Khadiya Goba (04:00): "Democrats are exploiting the idea of Epstein or the Republican base being really mad about Epstein..."

• Cleve Woodson (08:47): "This is shaking the fundamental bedrock of the MAGA movement..."

• Khadiya Goba (09:54): "It's a little difficult to convince people that you're being transparent or honest with them about the economy when you can't deliver something as easy as the Epstein files."

• Cleve Woodson (21:18): "The fallout from that sea change of Donald Trump is just another rich guy, politician, powerful person..."

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive understanding for those who haven't listened to it.