Podcast Summary: "Michael Jackson Murdered in Epstein Pedophile Cover-Up?"

Redacted News with Ian Carroll
Air Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Redacted News explores the controversial theory that Michael Jackson was murdered as part of a broader cover-up related to the Epstein child trafficking network. Hosts Clayton and Natalie Morris are joined by independent journalist Ian Carroll, who delves into the media's framing of Jackson, his connections (or lack thereof) to Epstein, and why narratives about Jackson's alleged abuse continue to circulate. The discussion scrutinizes the role of the FBI, the music industry, blackmail operations, and the ways high-profile accusations often serve to distract from larger scandals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Framing and Michael Jackson’s Innocence

• Main argument: The media persistently smeared Michael Jackson despite a lack of evidence, coordinated with certain industry interests threatened by his independence and outspokenness.
• Context: FBI investigated Jackson for over a decade and found no credible evidence of abuse (12:12).
• Celebrity testimonies: Macaulay Culkin and Aaron Carter both publicly stated Jackson protected them and that authorities tried to coerce them into false testimony.

“During that whole era of smears and accusations, the FBI investigated Michael Jackson for 10 years and found no credible evidence... It’s one of the most explicit examples of how the media can create a story out of nothing…”
— Ian Carroll (12:12)

Notable Quotes

• Michael Jackson (archive): "I ask all of you to wait and hear the truth before you label or condemn me… I am not guilty of these allegations." (07:29)
• Ian Carroll: "All the other children like Macaulay Culkin... all of them flatly denied anything of the sort, and no evidence was ever able to be obtained. But that didn't stop the media from just running the narrative." (13:15)

2. Who Benefited From Jackson’s Death? Cui Bono & Estate Control

• Key point: After Jackson’s death, the control of his estate fell to people he had fired and accused of theft, suggesting possible motive.
• Detail: Jackson’s revised will was notarized in LA on a date he was confirmed to be in New York; the will benefited John Branca and Sony, both with significant industry ties (15:15).
• Pattern: Similar “follow the money” logic applies in other celebrity deaths and industry scandals.

“When you follow that trail in Michael Jackson's case, Cui bono was John Branca and his associates, Sony, the record industry at large…”
— Ian Carroll (15:15)

3. Epstein Connection: Speculation vs. Evidence

• Main point: The evidence that Jackson was directly involved in any Epstein crimes is scant—but multiple testimonies (including Culkin's claim Jackson protected him from Epstein’s island) suggest Jackson was aware and protective, not complicit.
• Children confiding in Jackson: Due to his unique position as a child star and his advocacy for children, many in the industry may have shared their abuse stories with him (20:47).
• FBI and Entrapment: The FBI’s extensive pursuit of Jackson may have been less about justice and more about manufacturing leverage at the behest of industry figures (25:26).

4. Industry Blackmail, Entrapment, and Artist Control

• Artist control: Ian Carroll argues the music industry prefers artists easier to manage or blackmail; genuinely talented, independent artists like Jackson pose problems for the industry and are thus more likely to be targeted.
• Entrapment tactics: Purposeful exposure to vices in hopes of future leverage.
• Case study: The bizarre succession in Michael’s security team following his trusted head’s retirement, leading to potential infiltration by suspicious actors linked to other scandals (32:18).

“Diddy had a penchant for artists that suck... the industry realized over time that it's a lot easier to control artists that suck... The problem comes when you have an artist that's actually good...”
— Ian Carroll (28:19)

5. The Epstein Files: Cover-Ups and Media Diversion

• Observation: Recent attempts to revive allegations against Jackson, such as DOJ-released Epstein photos, distract from credible accusations around powerful living figures.
• Exemplar: The New York Post’s coverage, publishing opinions from a former prosecutor as fact and ignoring his acquittal (58:05).
• Online pushback: The public, especially Jackson’s family, increasingly call out these tactics.

“The more the public talks about Epstein, the more you post about Michael Jackson. The public has caught on. I suggest you read the room.”
— Taj Jackson (58:15)

6. Media and Influencer Silence or Deflection

• Key point: The lack of mainstream media coverage on the Epstein files is itself a clue—journalists or personalities who remain silent may be protecting establishment interests (44:24).
• Misleading narratives: New angles, like accusing Epstein of working for Russia, are attempts to muddy the waters and distract from the Israel-connected intelligence operation uncovered in the files.

“Anyone right now that is trying to pretend like we don't know who Epstein worked for or trying to pretend like he actually worked for the CIA and not Israel... that is a pretty sure sign that that person is not a journalist that I would be trusting ever.”
— Ian Carroll (45:01)

7. Deeper Layers: Intelligence Agencies and Technological Control

• Underreported angle: Epstein and his network were deeply involved in funding scientists and technocrats, particularly around genetics, AI, and surveillance technology (67:24).
• Warning: Growing integration of tech like Palantir into government surveillance infrastructure is part of a broader, less sensational, but more consequential set of trends tied to Epstein’s network.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 06:57 – Reframing the Jackson allegations in light of recent Epstein file releases.
• 09:00–09:22 – Aaron Carter and Macaulay Culkin discuss pressure from FBI/parents to fabricate stories about Jackson.
• 11:12 – Ian Carroll’s viral video and independent investigation.
• 15:15 – Who benefitted from Jackson’s death; the will and estate transfer.
• 20:47 – Jackson’s protective stance in the industry and speculative connections to Epstein.
• 25:26 – FBI investigation motivations and history of blackmail within the Bureau.
• 28:19 – How the music industry controls artists: the Diddy pattern and Jackson’s threat.
• 32:18 – Suspicious changes in Jackson’s security team post-trusted guard; links to Diddy trafficking ring.
• 38:03 – Jackson’s last phone call and concerns for his safety before death.
• 44:24 – Media silence about Epstein; what it reveals.
• 47:53 – DOJ releasing redacted Jackson photos: distraction tactic?
• 58:05 – New York Post’s old prosecutor story; Taj Jackson’s response.
• 67:24 – The deeper “blind spot”: Epstein’s links to technology and future control systems.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Entrapment in a lot of ways.” – Natalie (27:03)
• “There is no story more clear than the giant international sex trafficking cabal that's trafficking children to billionaires on behalf of Israel, trying to control and subvert our nation…” – Ian Carroll (46:25)
• “It’s no better way to control people’s image and narrative than to inflame these culture war identity politics narratives.” – Ian Carroll (64:30)
• “Stories are true or not true. It's not that stories are like racist or anti-Semitic. They’re just what happened.” – Ian Carroll (66:44)
• “The biggest blind spot is the deeper layers of the intelligence operation... all the scientists, particularly in genetics and transhumanist fields, and technology getting funded through Epstein’s network.” – Ian Carroll (67:24)

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Michael Jackson was likely the target of an orchestrated smear and possibly a lethal cover-up by the music industry, intelligence agencies, and others seeking to preserve their power and cover up widespread abuse.
• Recent media attempts to revive abuse allegations against Jackson serve as distraction from substantive revelations in the Epstein files implicating powerful figures and institutions.
• Entrenched networks use blackmail, manipulation, and narrative control (including through the mainstream media) as systemic tools.
• The deepest danger revealed by the Epstein saga may lie not in salacious celebrity details but in the quiet coalescence of surveillance, technology, and intelligence operations shaping the future.

Find Out More

• Ian Carroll Show on YouTube, Twitch, Kick: Independent reporting and deep-dive investigations into institutional corruption.
• cancelcarroll.com: Central hub for Ian’s investigative projects.

For those seeking the full context of the Epstein files, blackmail operations, and Michael Jackson’s story, this episode offers a detailed, critical look at how power protects itself—and whom it sacrifices in the process.