Podcast Summary: The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Episode: Free Speech BACKLASH as Even Members of Trump’s Base Reject His Attack on the First Amendment
Date: September 20, 2025
Host: Jen Psaki (MSNBC)

Overview

In this urgent and wide-ranging episode, Jen Psaki unpacks the ongoing crisis around free speech in the U.S. sparked by the Trump administration's aggressive actions against perceived critics and political enemies. Recent government pressure led to the indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel by ABC, bringing an explosive public backlash — not only from the entertainment sector and progressive circles, but also shockingly from influential conservatives and members of Trump’s own base. The episode also covers the forced resignation of Virginia U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert, who refused to pursue dubious charges against New York AG Letitia James, and the bipartisan response to continued cover-ups surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case. The show features key guests including Epstein survivor Annie Farmer, Senator Tim Kaine, and Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Kimmel Suspension: An Attack on Free Speech

[01:01–05:46]

• Context: ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel under FCC pressure after his criticism of Trump, sparking sharp outrage from peers and viewers.
• Public Reaction:
  • Protests erupt outside studios and ABC/Disney offices in both LA and NYC.
  • Unions and entertainers rally for Kimmel and free expression.
• Late-night industry speaks out:
  • A Kimmel peer comments, “Every day I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech. And we're going to keep doing our show the way we've always done it...” [02:18]
• Unexpected voices join the fight:
  • Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner tweets:

    “The suspending indefinitely of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the chairman of the FCC's aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney company is yet another example of out of control intimidation.” [04:01]

2. Conservative Pushback — Breaking from Trump

[05:08–06:52]

• Sen. Ted Cruz, typically a Trump defender, condemns the administration's tactics:

  “I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, we're gonna decide what speech we like and what we don't. ... It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel. But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it.” [05:08–05:46]

• Bipartisan calls for accountability:

  • Rep. Ro Khanna pushes to subpoena Trump’s FCC chair for “bullying private individuals and private businesses.” [06:26]
  • Even the Republican-led committee chair shows openness: “I think we could do that. I don't think the motion's necessary, but...” [06:39]

• Psaki's analysis:
  Republicans face “the height of hypocrisy ... to now turn around and support a literal government-backed censorship campaign.” [07:05]

3. Investigating Epstein: A Rare Bipartisan Effort

[08:38–12:28]

• Closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition with former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta about the Epstein case:

  • Republicans like Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene join Democrats pushing for transparency and forcing release of suppressed files.
  • Image emerges of Trump’s signature in Epstein’s birthday book due to a Republican subpoena.

• Acosta’s testimony widely condemned:

  “I'll tell you, after the first hour of sitting with Alex Acosta, I found him to be completely non credible as a witness. He also would not admit that Mr. Epstein received a sweetheart deal.” [10:04]

• **Psaki: “Alex Acosta insists he didn't do anything wrong, just like Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, just like Donald Trump. ... But we know there is more to be learned about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, who knew about them, who participated in them, and who helped him cover it up.” [10:53]

4. Epstein Survivor Annie Farmer: The Struggle for Accountability

[12:55–22:26]
(Interview with Annie Farmer)

• On Acosta’s lack of remorse:

  “It was really disappointing with all the information that’s come out, what we know transpired ... that he didn’t change the narrative in any way.” [14:01–14:39]

• On the fight for justice and broader transparency:

  “Right now, we don’t necessarily have a clear game plan. ... We’re still hoping ... to push forward the Epstein Transparency Act ... And we’re really grateful for the Republican women who have stood up with us on this issue, and we’re really surprised more haven’t, because again, this is not a partisan issue.” [15:22–17:03]

• On Congress members offering to read lists of names on the House floor:

  “I do believe them when they say they would be willing to do that. ... But I think what we really want is for the government to do their job.” [17:42]

• On the climate of fear amid crackdowns on journalism and speech:

  “I think it’s really terrifying to see the way that that is unfolding so quickly ... It just makes me think about the power of journalism when people are behaving ethically and are not afraid ... and all the damage that can be done when that’s not the case. It is, I think, very, very scary what we’re seeing unfold right now.” [21:19]

5. The Forcing Out of U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert

[24:24–37:24]
(Segues to an interview with Sen. Tim Kaine)

• Breaking news: Virginia’s U.S. Attorney, Eric Siebert, resigns after refusing to charge Trump’s enemy, AG Letitia James, with “mortgage fraud” — a charge Trump is using in a “weaponization of justice.”

  • The “evidence” against James is reportedly non-existent, as is the case with others targeted.
  • Trump publicly justifies Siebert’s firing on political grounds.

• Senator Tim Kaine explains the process and implicates deeper threats to rule-of-law:

  “Donald Trump’s team vetted these people... then decided to fire them. He forced Todd Gilbert out in the Western District after one month because Todd Gilbert would not demote people in that office that Donald Trump and the Department of Justice wanted demoted. And then he forced Eric Siebert out because Eric Siebert would not bring bogus criminal charges against somebody who is a political opponent of Donald Trump.” [30:37–33:05]

• On the significance of this office and future risks:

  “In prosecutor world, the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of Virginia are kind of viewed as maybe some of the most two critical federal court divisions ... Putting somebody in who's a political hack... rather than an expert ... is very [dangerous].” [33:57]

• On Senate power to resist further politicization:

  “We have a commitment from many on the Republican side ... that we're maintaining a blue slip process so that no one can be buffaloed into these positions without the approval of home state senators and the Judiciary Committee.” [36:16]

6. Threats Against Progressive Groups and the Right to Protest

[37:27–45:09]
(Interview with Indivisible’s Ezra Levin)

• In the wake of the Charlie Kirk shooting (with no evidence that the shooter is linked to leftist groups), Trump threatens RICO prosecutions of organizations like Indivisible and the Open Society Foundation.

• Levin responds:

  “This is a guy who instigated January 6... pardoning those violent insurrectionists ... what he doesn’t like is peaceful protests. And that's true of every autocrat the world over ... when your rights are under attack, the best way to defend them is to exercise them.” [39:34–41:14]

• Announces mass protest on October 18:

  “It's going to be bigger, it's going to be peaceful and it's going to be powerful.” [42:45]

• On grassroots readiness to boycott/pressure Disney over Kimmel:

  “Not only are they ready, they're beating us to it. ... If you subscribe to Hulu, if you subscribe to Disney, Disney plus, cancel it. ... When you cancel it, it will give you the option to submit a comment and tell them, we love Disney. ... But we can't because Bob Iger and Dana Walden are ruining the company and making it impossible for us... to continue sending us your dollars.” [43:14–45:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Late Night Host:

  “Every day I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech. And we're going to keep doing our show the way we've always done it, with enthusiasm and integrity.” [02:18]

• Michael Eisner (former Disney CEO):

  “If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the First Amendment?” [04:01]

• Sen. Ted Cruz (unexpectedly defending Kimmel):

  “We shouldn’t be threatening government power to force him off air. That's a real mistake.” [05:46]

• Jen Psaki (on GOP hypocrisy):

  “Republicans like Ted Cruz understand that it is the height of hypocrisy for them to now turn around and support a literal government backed censorship campaign.” [07:05]

• Annie Farmer (Epstein survivor):

  “It was really disappointing, with all the information that’s come out ... that he [Acosta] didn’t change the narrative in any way.” [14:01]

• Sen. Tim Kaine (on forced resignations of prosecutors):

  “He forced Eric Siebert out today because Eric Siebert would not bring bogus criminal charges against somebody who is a political opponent of Donald Trump.” [30:37]

• Ezra Levin (Indivisible):

  “What he doesn’t like is peaceful protests. ... When your rights are under attack, the best way to defend them is to exercise them.” [41:14]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:01 – Trump world Friday: Forced resignation of U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert
• 01:58 – Kimmel’s suspension: Late night and public reactions
• 04:01 – Michael Eisner’s tweet
• 05:08 – Sen. Ted Cruz denunciation
• 06:26 – Ro Khanna’s FCC subpoena push
• 08:38 – Epstein/Acosta deposition & bipartisan probe
• 12:55 – Interview: Annie Farmer, Epstein survivor
• 14:01 – Farmer on Acosta testimony
• 17:03 – Unlikely coalition in Epstein transparency
• 19:59 – On government transparency and congressional immunity
• 21:19 – The chilling environment for journalists and survivors
• 24:24 – U.S. Attorney Siebert's forced resignation breakdown
• 29:11 – Trump justifies firing
• 30:37 – Interview: Senator Tim Kaine
• 33:57 – Risks of politicized federal prosecutions
• 37:27 – Politicization of justice and Senate checks
• 39:34 – Interview: Ezra Levin (Indivisible)
• 41:14 – Announcing mass protests
• 43:14 – Boycott Disney push

Tone and Language

The episode maintains an urgent, critical, and at times incredulous tone, reflecting the gravity of the threats to the First Amendment and the rule of law. Psaki's style is direct, often passionate, and she foregrounds the voices of her guests whose language ranges from measured outrage (Eisner, Kaine) to weary frustration (Farmer) to activism (Levin). There’s a recurring sense of both alarm and resolve, as those interviewed invoke the language of “accountability,” “democracy,” “hypocrisy,” and “solidarity.”

Summary Takeaway

This episode crystalizes a pivotal moment in the U.S. — a clash between escalating executive overreach and the collective defense of constitutional freedoms across the ideological spectrum. Unexpected conservative breaks with Trump, survivor activism, bipartisan congressional scrutiny, and grassroots mobilization signal a society grappling with the boundaries of power, protest, and accountability. The threats to free speech and honest prosecution are mounting, but so too is a cross-partisan movement to resist and restore democratic norms.