Podcast Summary

The Beat with Ari Melber

Episode: Billionaire Les Wexner Testifies About Epstein Ties
Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Ari Melber
Guests/Contributors: Emily Bazelon, Ty Cobb, Jay McInerney

Overview

This episode of The Beat with Ari Melber centers on new developments in the congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s financial enablers, specifically focusing on billionaire Les Wexner's testimony under oath about his decades-long relationship with Epstein. The episode also explores broader issues of power, accountability, and political interference in justice, touching on Trump-era immigration crackdowns, election integrity, and the political influence of tech billionaires. Notable guests include legal writer Emily Bazelon, former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb, and novelist Jay McInerney.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Les Wexner's Testimony in the House Epstein Probe

[00:30–05:00]

• Context:

  • Congress, dissatisfied with DOJ's limited prosecutions from the Epstein files (only Maxwell), is taking its own investigative steps.
  • Les Wexner — the reclusive billionaire and ex-Epstein employer — is compelled to testify under oath in Ohio regarding the vast sums he funneled to Epstein.

• Key Facts:

  • Lawmakers estimate over $1 billion cumulatively moved from Wexner to Epstein; Wexner appears in Epstein-related files over 1,000 times.
  • Wexner claims he severed business ties with Epstein when the latter’s legal troubles began in Florida.
  • He describes Epstein as a world-class conman, skilled manipulator, and “living a type of double life.”

• Wexner’s Position:

  • Asserts he was only a financial victim, “duped by a world class con man.”
  • “I regret ever having met him.” — Les Wexner (paraphrased by Ari Melber, [04:00])
  • Maintains he had no knowledge of Epstein’s sexual crimes and recouped some stolen money through private means.
  • No legal allegations have been brought against Wexner by DOJ.

• Skepticism from Lawmakers:

  • Lawmakers express doubt about the extent of Wexner’s ignorance.
    • “The more this deposition goes on, the less Les Wexner knows. We are running into dead ends.” — Ty Cobb ([05:23])
    • “He has basically alleged that he saw no evil, heard no evil.” — Ty Cobb ([05:34])
  • Democrats especially question claims that Wexner was oblivious to Epstein’s activities given the scale of financial involvement.

2. What Did or Didn’t The DOJ Do?

[07:00–13:38]

• Congressional Frustration:

  • Lawmakers—across both Trump and Biden DOJ periods—criticize the DOJ for failing to pursue leads against people in Epstein’s orbit.
  • Survivors and advocates highlight Wexner’s central role as Epstein’s “financial benefactor” but point out he was “not contacted or interviewed by the FBI or DOJ... That is shameful.” — Ari Melber paraphrasing Rep. Garcia ([11:21])

• Maxwell's Silence:

  • Ghislaine Maxwell continues to invoke Fifth Amendment rights in House probe; Congress has not yet offered immunity to compel testimony.

• Broader Implications:

  • Discussion of global investigations: France and the UK open new probes, reflecting both the international scope of Epstein’s crimes and the slow, jurisdiction-bound nature of accountability.

• Bazelon on Proving Knowledge vs. Suspicion:

  • “Members of Congress sort of assuming, 'well, there must be [a connection].' ...But that's really different from, 'We can show here that he's lying, we can show he knew where his money's going.' ...They have some real proof they need to offer before they make these kinds of allegations.” — Emily Bazelon ([09:55])
  • She cites the difficulty (and embarrassment) for billionaires to publicly admit being conned and the lack of hard evidence linking Wexner financially to the sex crime ring.

3. Trump, Immigration, and Election Integrity Fights

[13:39–21:24]

• Rising Distrust:

  • Ari Melber connects recent events (e.g., ICE at polling sites, Trump's claims about mail-in ballot fraud) to plummeting public trust in elections.
  • “Fact check, false. ...President’s claim that [mail-in voting] is, quote, corrupt, is not backed up by the experience in states.” — Ari Melber ([15:17])

• Trump’s Rhetoric & Potential For Intimidation:

  • Ty Cobb warns about the seriousness of Trump and allies’ suggestions of federal interference:
    • “Steve Bannon promised that ICE would be out in groves, at key precincts and in key states...” ([16:45])
    • “It's all intended to desensitize America and discredit voting...” ([16:45])

• Legal Perspective on ICE at Polls:

  • Cobb clarifies: ICE “actually has no local law enforcement authority in any of the states. ...They shouldn't be there. But it’s going to take a series of court battles...” ([20:06])

• Alarming Parallels & Warnings:

  • Reference to Russian dissident Garry Kasparov’s warnings about illegal detentions and “gulags”:
    • “He’s building ... dozens of prisons to house up to 8,000 people. Who are they for?... This is not a drill.” — Ty Cobb ([21:24])

• State Resistance:

  • Melber notes: Activism at local/state level (e.g., Minnesota National Guard) may be needed to protect voting from federal overreach.

4. Supreme Court & Redistricting Battles

[24:02–28:46]

• Recent Rulings:

  • Ty Cobb describes the patchwork of Supreme Court decisions allowing both Republican-favored (Texas) and Democrat-favored (California) maps to stand, essentially “no distinction between decisions and the reasoning, even though Trump ... championed one, criticized the other.” ([25:03])

• Election ‘Emergency’ Measures:

  • Courts likely to avoid late-changing maps; fast-approaching deadlines make successful legal interventions less likely.

• Cobb on "Full Scale Onslaught":

  • “...courts, legislatures ... we'll see ICE in the streets trying to intimidate ... and prevent the elections from going smoothly in blue states and key precincts.” ([28:06])

5. Tech Billionaires, Wealth, and Democracy

[30:21–37:52]

• Mark Zuckerberg Testifies:

  • Zuckerberg takes the stand in a “landmark” case about tech addiction in children.
  • Melber draws parallels between Big Tech and Big Tobacco — both accused of profiting from public harm.

• America’s New Gilded Age:

  • The vast majority of the richest Americans are tech titans; they’re not only running the digital economy, but buying up media, influencing politics (e.g., Elon Musk’s donations to Trump, Musk’s X/Twitter), and impacting the public sphere.
  • “It’s not enough to just be the richest person in the world. Apparently the appetite is stoked to then control media and television and other tech.” — Ari Melber ([34:02])

• Political Power & Influence:

  • Trump's adult sons, now in crypto, involved in controversial deals that raise conflict of interest questions.

• Media Consolidation Concerns:

  • Jeff Bezos’s layoffs at the Washington Post spotlight tech billionaire dominance in media.
  • Colbert’s clashes with MAGA-tied owners highlight the risk of right-wing control over multiple major media outlets.

6. The Culture of Excess: Jay McInerney Interview

[37:52–44:48]

• 80s Greed vs. Tech Billionaires Today:

  • “I’m an early Bezos hater... So I wasn’t surprised...it’s just disgraceful [what he’s] doing to the Washington Post. ...He’s now like so many tech bros, converted to a Trump collaborator, an enabler.” — Jay McInerney ([38:01])
  • McInerney sees the tech billionaires as more numerous, worse-behaved, and far more powerful than the finance titans of decades past.
  • “The greed and excess of the 80s...just seems incredibly quaint given the greed and excess we’re talking about now.” ([41:42])

• Societal Impact:

  • Discussion about how today's wealth is largely virtual, top-heavy, and disconnected from the real economy — unlike the old industrial barons.
  • McInerney expresses concern over the cultural consequences of tech's dominance and consolidation of media power.

• Role of Artists in a MAGA Corporate Moment:

  • McInerney applauds Colbert for standing up to MAGA-linked corporate owners, but worries about less-established creators:
    • “Younger broadcasters, younger comics, what are they going to do in the current environment? It looks like we’re about to have three or four Trump propaganda arms instead of just Fox News now...” ([43:12])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wexner's Testimony and Knowledge

  • “He has basically alleged that he saw no evil, heard no evil.” — Ty Cobb ([05:34])
  • “What today was about is whether there’s a connection between those two kinds of activity. And Wexner is saying there wasn’t any.” — Emily Bazelon ([08:43])

• On DOJ Inaction:

  • “He's someone that's been named by survivors...and has not been contacted or interviewed by the FBI or DOJ. What the hell is going on? That is shameful.” — Rep. Garcia paraphrased by Melber ([11:21])

• On Billionaire Excess:

  • “The greed and excess of the 80s...just seems incredibly quaint given the greed and excess we’re talking about now.” — Jay McInerney ([41:42])

• On Political Threats to Democracy:

  • “It's all intended to desensitize America and discredit voting...” — Ty Cobb ([16:45])
  • “He’s building ... dozens of prisons to house up to 8,000 people. ... This is not a drill.” — Ty Cobb ([21:24])

• On Media Consolidation and Dissent:

  • “It matters greatly that Stephen Colbert stands up. ... But younger broadcasters...what are they going to do?” — Jay McInerney ([43:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Start | End | |-------------------------------------------------- |----------|----------| | Les Wexner Testifies on Epstein Ties | 00:30 | 05:17 | | Lawmaker and Legal Reactions, DOJ Critique | 05:17 | 13:38 | | Trump, ICE, Election Integrity | 13:39 | 21:24 | | Redistricting Legal Fights, State Resistance | 24:02 | 28:46 | | Big Tech Accountability, Wealth, and Influence | 30:21 | 37:52 | | Jay McInerney on Modern Excess & Media Power | 37:52 | 44:48 |

Tone & Language

Ari Melber maintains a probing, even-handed yet urgent tone, emphasizing the stakes for democracy and the tension between wealth, power, and accountability. His guests respond with candor and expertise, utilizing both legal and cultural frames to illuminate the challenges presented by both the Epstein saga and the wider context of billionaire influence on American society and politics.

Summary

This episode unpacks the latest revelations in the Epstein saga, focusing on Les Wexner’s under-oath claims of ignorance, while congressional investigators, legal experts, and journalists question the credibility of such defenses and call out institutional failures in pursuing justice. The conversation broadens to American democracy’s vulnerability to both political strong-arming and concentrated tech billionaire influence—on media, politics, and the culture itself. With sharp exchanges, historical comparisons, and a call to vigilance, “The Beat” delivers a critical, in-depth look at modern power, accountability, and the fight for truth in an age of spin.