The Bulwark Podcast
Episode: Jane Coaston: The Epstein Revelations Keep Getting Worse
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Jane Coaston (Crooked Media's What a Day)
Date: February 10, 2026
Main Theme
This episode delves into the most recent revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein files, the fallout for elites entangled in the scandal, accountability for co-conspirators, and the broader implications for American politics, populism, and perceptions of anti-elite sentiment. Tim Miller and Jane Coaston explore why the Epstein story strikes a nerve in the political and cultural landscape, the uncomfortable overlaps of wealth, power, and corruption, and shifting attitudes in American society—touching on everything from cryptocurrency scams to pro-wrestling as a populist barometer.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Howard Lutnick and the Epstein Files
[01:56 - 08:24]
- Setting the Scene: Lutnick, a prominent financial figure, testified before the Senate about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after being named several times in the released files.
- Discrepancy Highlighted: Lutnick previously claimed revulsion after visiting Epstein—"I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again"—but continued to meet, email, and conduct business with Epstein for years after.
- Quote [02:50]: Tim Miller reads Lutnick's own emphatic pronouncement about cutting off contact, even as he later joined Epstein on his private island with his family.
- Email Patterns: Jane notes how weird, rambling, and incoherent Epstein's emails often were, yet important and powerful people continued to interact with him regardless.
- Motivations: Jane asks rhetorically, "At a baseline level, there's like, one reason you spend this much time with Jeffrey Epstein. And if it wasn't for that reason, what were you doing?"
- Examples of 'Normal' Dealings: The pair detail episodes of seemingly mundane neighborhood squabbles and business partnerships involving Epstein post-2005, undermining denials of continued association.
2. Why Do Elites Still Show Up to Hearings?
[08:41 - 12:54]
- Paradox of Participation: Tim and Jane puzzle over why figures like Lutnick subject themselves to public Congressional grillings, even as norms collapse elsewhere.
- Perception Management: Jane suggests, "They care a lot about perception management, a lot about it," arguing that despite the cynical breaking of norms, the need to appear legitimate or likable persists in this administration.
- Quote [10:28] Jane Coaston: "They want so badly to not just be feared, but also liked, which are not the same thing."
- Right-wing Media Ignoring the Story: Fox News and right-leaning outlets largely avoid coverage, while some outlets try to change the topic or shift blame overseas.
3. Ghislaine Maxwell, Clemency, and Congressional Response
[13:32 - 16:41]
- Maxwell Takes the Fifth: Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to answer the House Oversight Committee, but says she'll testify if Trump grants her clemency, promising to exonerate both Trump and Clinton.
- Political Danger: Both agree even Trump likely recognizes pardoning Maxwell is radioactive, with Jane mocking the absurdity of Maxwell's supposed "honest" testimony.
- Quote [14:53] Jane Coaston: "Child sex trafficker who will go to hell..."
- Unusual Bipartisan Response: Even Rep. Lauren Boebert opposes clemency for Maxwell:
- Quote [16:33]: "I do not. I think, I think Ghislaine Maxwell should get more time and she should definitely be in a harsher prison than what she's in."
- Victim Accountability: Tim stresses, "there needs to be more information provided... and hopefully indictments and accountability for the other people that were involved."
4. Emerging Names and Ongoing Cover-up
[17:00 - 22:13]
- New Names Surface: Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie mention seeing photos and names of six more implicated men; at least two are named: Les Wexner (Victoria's Secret) and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem (UAE).
- International Angle: The Sultan is linked to torture videos and possible victim testimonies, illustrating the vast international web of the case.
- Les Wexner's Ties: Jane and Tim remark on the oddity of Wexner assigning his fortune's management to Epstein ("Who could say why?").
5. Crypto, Corruption, and Regulatory Failure
[22:13 - 28:19]
- Epstein, Trump, and Crypto: Tim draws lines between Epstein co-conspirators and major Trump business deals in the UAE, especially the $500 million crypto arrangement.
- Regulatory Breakdown: Only one serious enforcement attorney remains at CFTC-Chicago, leading one ex-attorney to say, "If I were a different person, I would launch a crypto scam right now because there's no cops on the beat." [23:55]
- Political Challenge: Both hosts argue that crypto has become a vehicle for scams, with Jane observing, "cryptocurrency keeps just being predominantly used for scams."
- Democratic Response: Tim worries Democrats are too uninformed on crypto, conceding the narrative to right-wingers and unregulated actors.
6. Populism, Fitness Culture, and Obsequiousness in Elite Circles
[28:19 - 33:44]
- Crypto Bros & Political Appeal: The rise of crypto culture as a political lever is unpacked; Jane suggests Dems should pursue a "scammers are ripping you off" populist message rather than embracing crypto.
- The 'Epstein Class': Jane explains it's now shorthand for a corrupt, self-interested oligarchical elite, with both crypto billionaires and political fixers fitting the type.
- Peter Attia's Groveling Emails: Jane and Tim roast the now-notorious longevity doc for fawning, obsequious exchanges with Epstein ("I go into Jeffrey Epstein withdrawal when I don't hear from him."). [30:21 - 32:12]
- Coaston points to the almost cult-like selfishness in Epstein's orbit: "No one did that more than Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein believed firmly that what he wanted and his desires were the most important thing in the entire world." [32:17]
- Doug Band & Maxwell's 'Boo Booitis': Tim reads an excruciating email from a top Clinton aide to Maxwell, revealing the childish and deranged communication style within Epstein's elite circle. [33:44]
7. Small Bean Fascism, Perception of Protest, and State Power
[35:09 - 38:57]
- Shift in Authoritarianism: Invoking Adam Serwer’s phrase, they discuss "small bean fascism"—the paradox of being both all-powerful and ever-victimized, a mindset prevalent in Trumpist leadership and MAGA grievance culture.
- Coaston: "You want to be able to kill people, but you don’t want people to be mad at you for killing people." [38:21]
- Democratic ‘Adultification’: Jane highlights the burden on liberals/progressives to always be the adults, letting the right "be a wheedling child" while avoiding accountability.
8. Wrestling, Anti-ICE Populism, and Political Identity
[39:58 - 44:49]
- AEW & Populist Chants: An audience at a wrestling event chanting “F--- ICE” is dissected as evidence that anti-elite and anti-authority sentiment cross traditional party lines and can even arise in unlikely venues.
- 'Rich Asshole Test': Both explain the symbolic importance of wrestling’s “heel” and the opportunity Democrats have to shed the image of "rich asshole" technocrats and reclaim anti-elitism for themselves.
9. Doomerism, the Left, and the Need for a Positive Program
[47:23 - 52:23]
- Why BlueSky?: Jane prefers it as a social network for community, sports, and authentic engagement over anger-driven echo chambers.
- She critiques the "relentless expressions of despair" as performative intellectualism and urges a move from anti-everything to pro-something politics for the American left.
- "If we are going to do this thing, we can't just have a politics of anti-Trump. We are going to need to have a pro-something else politics for 2028." [51:38]
10. Washington Post Sports Section—Loss of Local Institutions
[52:23 - 55:33]
- Jane mourns the closure/downsizing of the Washington Post sports section, highlighting its importance in covering high school athletics, community victories, and accountability reporting (e.g., Commanders/Redskins ownership scandals).
- "D.C. is a beautiful, rich community full of so much stuff, including so many people who care so deeply about sports..." [54:10]
- The loss is emblematic of wider declines in local journalism and shared community memory.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Jane Coaston [03:23]: “At a baseline level, there's like, one reason you spend this much time with Jeffrey Epstein. And if it wasn't for that reason, what were you doing?”
- Tim Miller [05:39]: "Maybe he thinks it makes it better that he brought his children to the island. Not really. For me, it kind of makes it worse."
- Jane Coaston [10:28]: "[T]he right has political power but wants cultural power. They want so badly to not just be feared, but also liked, which are not the same thing."
- Jane Coaston [14:53]: "Child sex trafficker who will go to hell..."
- Lauren Boebert [16:33]: "I do not. I think, I think Ghislaine Maxwell should get more time and she should definitely be in a harsher prison than what she's in."
- CFTC Attorney (Paraphrased by Tim Miller) [23:55]: "If I were a different person, I would launch a crypto scam right now because there's no cops on the beat."
- Jane Coaston [30:21]: "There is not a single good famous doctor."
- Jane Coaston [32:17]: "No one did that more than Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein believed firmly that what he wanted and his desires were the most important thing in the entire world."
- Tim Miller [33:44]: (Reading Doug Band’s email exchange with Maxwell) – "My Boo Booitis is also reaching epic proportions. Lots going on, but will be in boobooville. The second you arrive."
- Jane Coaston [38:21]: "You want to be able to kill people, but you don’t want people to be mad at you for killing people."
- Jane Coaston [43:03]: "A challenge for Democrats and progressives has been that Democrats and progressives have been viewed as the combination of rich assholes who want to tell you what to do."
- Jane Coaston [51:38]: "If we are going to do this thing, we can't just have a politics of anti-Trump. We are going to need to have a pro something else politics for 2028."
- Jane Coaston [54:10]: "D.C. is a beautiful, rich community full of so much stuff, including so many people who care so deeply about sports..."
Important Timestamps
- 01:56: Start of Epstein-Lutnick discussion
- 02:50: Lutnick’s emphatic “never again” quote
- 05:39: Implications of Lutnick visiting island (with family)
- 08:41: Why do MAGA elites still testify?
- 10:28: Perception management and cultural power
- 13:32: Ghislaine Maxwell takes the Fifth/clemency for testimony
- 16:33: Lauren Boebert on Maxwell clemency
- 18:31: Names of other implicated men (Wexner, Bin Sulayem)
- 23:55: CFTC crypto scam quote
- 30:21: Jane’s rant on 'famous doctors' and Peter Attia emails
- 33:44: Doug Band / Ghislaine Maxwell 'boobooitis' email
- 35:09: "Small bean fascism" discussion
- 39:58: AEW wrestling and 'Fuck ICE' chants
- 43:03: Democrats and the 'rich asshole' perception
- 51:38: Need for "pro-something" leftist politics
- 54:10: Washington Post sports section and community impact
Tone & Style
- Conversational, irreverent, darkly humorous
- Candid, self-aware, and willing to criticize all sides
- A blend of policy wonkery, media analysis, and cultural commentary
This summary encompasses major threads of the episode, giving you the key facts, memorable quotes, and the big-picture context—whether you’re interested in the unraveling Epstein scandal, 2024-2028 populism, or the fate of local sports journalism.