Raging Moderates: “The Trump Epstein Doodle Bombshell”
Scott Galloway & Jessica Tarlov
Vox Media Podcast Network
September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this charged, centrist-leaning episode, Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov mark the podcast's one-year anniversary, reflect on moderates' place in modern politics, and dive deep into the headline-dominating bombshell from the latest Jeffrey Epstein estate disclosures—specifically, the release of a now-infamous “birthday book” featuring an explicit and disturbing card allegedly created by Donald Trump. The duo explores the political, social, and moral fallout from the revelations, including the broader failings of the political establishment, public reaction, and the media’s role. They also navigate immigration policy, dissect a startling gender gap in Gen Z, and touch on how shifting priorities among young adults reflect deeper social divides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Launch & One-Year Anniversary Reflections [(03:09)]

• Milestone Reflections: Scott and Jessica share personal highlights from their first year co-hosting, underscoring the importance of civil, centrist dialogue in a polarized media environment.

  • Jessica: “This has been one of the most wonderful, consequential experiences of my professional life, and I'm so thrilled to be doing this with you.” [03:09]
  • Scott admits to feeling some "imposter syndrome," recognizing Jessica’s political expertise and data acumen from her Fox News and polling background. [06:17]

• Banter on Parenting & Gender: Both hosts reflect on the challenges and joys of parenthood, generational gender roles, and their daily calls with their mothers—a rare point of connection amidst the show’s more adversarial subjects.

  • Scott jokes, “I had Indian food last night, so I think that's somewhat similar… I'm a little pregnant all the time. Cause I have to pee all the time.” [04:54–05:09]

2. The Epstein Bombshell: Details & Fallout

Document Drops, The “Birthday Book,” and Trump’s Doodle [(10:06)]

• Epstein Estate Documents Unleashed: The House Oversight Committee releases the “birthday book,” a controversial artifact gifted to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday containing personal letters and disturbing images. One standout: a card allegedly from Trump, featuring a doodle of a woman’s body with unusual, highly questionable features (notably, small breasts and Trump’s signature depicted as “pubic hair”).

  • Jessica: “...the breasts are very small. It's not like how you would typically draw boobs...It has a, a young girl vibe to it...your stomach just drops.” [10:06–11:30]
  • Jessica further notes a second drawing: “Epstein giving balloons to little girls in 1983...another image of him being massaged and potentially orally serviced...by a woman in a thong...What a great country.” [11:33–12:31]

• Public & Political Reactions:

  • Trump denies authorship, files a massive defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal, and aides question the authenticity of the signature. Multiple media organizations conduct signature analyses, overwhelmingly confirming its authenticity. [08:27–09:12, 17:27–20:15]
  • Jessica: “It's obviously his signature...the idea that Donald Trump is somehow the hero in it...is not going to fly...they missed bigly on this one.” [19:21–20:09]

• Bipartisan Disgust and Break with MAGA:

  • Even staunch Trump allies struggle to spin the revelations. Jessica points out that the MAGA base is “incensed” as Trump seems exposed as “a flagship participant” in Epstein’s world—contradicting his carefully cultivated outsider persona. [17:27–18:34]
  • Scott: “I would argue that Jeffrey Epstein right now is the most powerful person posthumously...the most consequential and influential figure in American politics.” [15:45–16:35]

3. Partisanship & Calls for Transparency

• Democratic Opportunity? Scott suggests that Democrats could run on a promise to fully disclose the Epstein files, using the issue as a wedge to appeal across party lines:

  • Scott: “‘If we take control of the House, we will release the Epstein files.’ It’s pretty simple, folks.” [22:06–23:38]
  • Jessica cautions against neglecting cost of living, but agrees the mishandling of the Epstein case is “part of the betrayal” message about Trump. [23:38–24:17]

• Survivors and Bi-Partisan Push: Mention of unlikely alliances—Marjorie Taylor Greene among others—pushing for more transparency and reading survivors’ names in Congress, signifying rare cross-party unity. [21:15–21:37]

4. Immigration: The ICE Raid & Policy Contradictions [(25:28)]

• Savannah Hyundai Plant ICE Raid: 450+ mostly South Korean nationals with legal visas detained; major South Korean companies reevaluate US operations.

  • Scott: “This will absolutely reduce jobs ... We’re saying fuck you to a great ally.” [28:05–29:27]
  • Jessica: "We're not a friend...It's like Pixar or it didn't happen so we could line up 350, 400 South Korean engineers...to shackle them. These guys wearing polo shirts..." [29:27–30:35]

• Self-Defeating Policy, Economic Repercussions: Both emphasize the economic own-goal of such actions, including retaliatory moves by South Korea (e.g., talk of expelling American English teachers).

• Human Costs: Overcrowded ICE facilities (140% capacity); most detainees have no criminal record. Scott: “Our most profitable part of immigration is illegal immigration...If you really wanted to solve the problem...you’d start fining those nice business owners that employ these people…” [31:00–32:56]

5. Gen Z Gender Divide—Values, Marriage, Politics [(35:15)]

• New Poll Data: Stark gender splits—young men lean more pro-Trump, prioritize marriage and kids; young women de-prioritize children, valuing emotional stability and meaningful work.

  • Scott: “Men need relationships and get more from them, romantic relationships, than women. On average, men live four to seven years longer when they're married; women two to four years longer. Widows are happier after their husband dies...widowers are less happy.” [37:57–40:00]
  • Jessica: “We're not going to be marrying people who vote differently than us, which is the fundamental…” [35:15]

• Why the Gap Exists: Hosts discuss shifting economic independence for women and men’s struggles with changing family structures, the digitization of dating (winner-take-most dynamics), and the manosphere’s toxic influence.

  • Scott: “50% of all ecommerce goes to one player...the top 10% of men are just cleaning up and the bottom 90% are just kind of shut out of the mating market...it’s creating a lot of unnecessary anger and real fissure.” [40:45–44:06]

• Advice and Societal Trends:

  • Jessica: “Marry someone kind. That's kind of all that it is.” [44:06]
  • Both worry about “open season” on men in media and the lack of empathy or mentoring for young men by older generations.
  • Scott: “Men of my age have a responsibility to recognize some of that disproportionate advantage we had...but also especially to reach back into the young men who are paying the price for our advantage. Because nobody has empathy for them except for mothers.” [51:40–53:07]

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Trump-Epstein Card:

  • Jessica: “When you see actually the signature as pubic hair in real life…your stomach just drops.” [11:17]
  • Scott: “This felt like a work. This felt like a piece of work and a project where he hired or had resources and he instructed them. This is the vibe I want to get across.” [13:50–14:38]

• On the Power of the Story:

  • Scott: “Arguably the most powerful person in domestic politics right now is Epstein posthumously, because he basically shut down the government.” [15:39]
  • Jessica: “There are some things that supersede politics. Right? They're so visceral.” [21:28]

• On Immigration:

  • Scott: “Let me appeal to the Republican side. This will absolutely reduce jobs of domestic workers. That Hyundai plant hires and creates a lot of jobs for high paying jobs for domestic workers. We've basically said no, we want to humiliate your workers and send a chill.” [28:05]
  • Jessica: “I'm sorry, that is not what anyone imagined when Trump said, I'm going to get the bad hombres out of the country.” [30:30]

• On Gen Z:

  • Scott: “Men are much less likely, they have better health outcomes, much more likely the household to build wealth. And essentially only one in three men is in a relationship under the age of 30, whereas two and three women are...it's not because women are dating older, because they want more economically and emotionally viable men.” [38:47–40:08]

7. Podcast’s First Year—Montage of Rage & Chill Moments [(57:05)]

• A lighthearted retrospective features rage-worthy and chill-out topics from previous episodes, with voices of prominent guests (e.g., Hillary Clinton, Hakeem Jeffries).

  • Jessica: “It's deeply disheartening that we are living in a time of such overt misogyny and pushback on the rights that women have gained over the last hundred plus years.” [58:22]

• Statistical Self-Congratulation:

  • Scott: “...we are getting about...190,000 impressions. The average CNN show gets 350...but in terms of people that actually swing elections and buy expensive coffee and Range Rovers and Vuori Athleisure, we're kicking ass.” [60:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:09 — Anniversary reflections and podcasting in the polarized era
• 10:06 — Epstein files, Trump birthday book, disturbing illustrations
• 15:45 — Epstein’s posthumous influence, media strategy to bury the news
• 20:15 — Confirmation of Trump signature, bipartisan anger
• 22:06 — Democrats’ messaging opportunity with Epstein transparency
• 25:28 — ICE raid on Hyundai plant, immigration own-goals
• 35:15 — Gen Z gender divide, diverging values, dating data
• 44:06 — Kindness as the foundation of marriage
• 51:40 — Generational responsibilities and empathy for young men
• 57:05 — Favorite moments, anniversary montage

Tone & Style

• Packed with signature sarcasm, rapid-fire references, lived experience, and inside-baseball political commentary.
• Both hosts balance empathy, exasperation, and levity, with occasional raw language (“It was a confirmation of all of the possible worst case scenarios...your stomach just drops.” [11:30])
• Willingness to acknowledge both cynicism and hope—e.g., the resurgence of in-person social clubs and dating fatigue with online apps. [54:26–55:26]

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its unflinching treatment of the Trump–Epstein connection, its critique of establishment and insurgent actors alike, and for personal reflections that ground current events in lived experience. Throughout, Galloway and Tarlov argue for honesty, nuance, and humility as the only way through battered American politics. The conversation weaves in profound demographic questions, dashed expectations, and the possibly transformative effect of transparency—while also poking fun at themselves, politics, and (most of all) the absurdities of the news cycle.

Quotable Closer:
Scott: “If we take control of the House, the next day we vote and pass legislation to immediately release the Epstein files. I think that will be a very powerful thing to run on.” [22:13]