I Know DOJ Is Covering for Trump on Epstein: Rep

Summary

The Daily Beast Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: "I Know DOJ Is Covering for Trump on Epstein: Rep"

Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Sarah Ewal Weiss (filling in for Joanna Coles)
Guest: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Member of the House Judiciary Committee
Theme:
A sweeping and hard-hitting interview with Rep. Dan Goldman on the state of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump’s second term, the cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, the erosion of democratic norms, growing anxieties over presidential health, the intensification of First Amendment threats, and the stakes for American democracy heading into the midterm elections.

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Main Discussion Topics

1. DOJ as Trump’s "Personal Law Firm"

Timestamps: 03:11 - 05:04

• Rep. Goldman details how Donald Trump continues to appoint personal lawyers (e.g., Todd Blanche, Pam Bondi) to key DOJ positions, focusing solely on "loyalty" as the qualification.
  • "He has only focused this term on loyalty as the single qualification for hiring pretty much anybody." (Dan Goldman, 03:25)
  • Todd Blanche, a former respected prosecutor, reportedly now behaves as "Donald Trump’s personal retribution attorney."
• Goldman's disappointment in seeing former colleagues abandon principles for Trump's agenda.

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2. Enduring Damage to DOJ & Threat to Democracy

Timestamps: 05:16 - 07:44

• The weaponization and politicization of DOJ have created deep credibility issues that will "far outlast Donald Trump."
  • "You can't replace [lost experience] in a day." (Goldman, 05:25)
  • "They have undermined the credibility of everything that they do." (05:48)
• Explicit comparison to "banana republics" – DOJ allegedly charging political adversaries as an intimidation tactic.

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3. Potential for Bipartisan Repair and Legislation

Timestamps: 07:44 - 09:34

• Goldman says some Republicans—particularly former prosecutors—are "alarmed and outraged," suggesting potential bipartisan momentum to restore DOJ norms.
• He emphasizes the need for legislation to codify norms "that have existed since Richard Nixon" but have now been "stomped all over."

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4. First Amendment Attacks & Intimidation of Press

Timestamps: 09:34 – 13:05

• Specific examples of the administration’s escalating threats against journalists:
  • "There are now allegations…he’s investigating Sarah Fitzpatrick of The Atlantic, who wrote what seems to be a very deeply sourced and damaging story about Kash Patel being drunk on the job." (Goldman, 10:37)
• Alleged use of DOJ powers and FCC threats for retribution.
• "You cannot use the power of your official office to get retribution against people who say things you don't like. And this is another veiled threat." (10:59)

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5. The Cover-Up of Epstein Files

Timestamps: 14:18 – 18:37

• DOJ is accused of unlawfully withholding or "covering up" 2.5 million Epstein-related documents, supposedly claiming "bogus" attorney-client privilege and unconvincing duplications:
  • "There’s no reason for them to cover up two and a half million pages…If they are duplicates, turn them over. There’s no reason not to." (Goldman, 15:57)
  • Goldman claims to be "almost certain…there is a lot more material that would implicate Donald Trump in some aspect of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking conspiracy" (16:23)
• Survivors or Congress may eventually have to push for accountability and transparency.

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6. Limits of Legal Recourse and Enforcing Accountability

Timestamps: 18:37 – 21:39

• Many statutes depend on a president’s basic good faith; enforcement mechanisms are weak when a president "just doesn't care about the Constitution or the law." (Goldman, 18:45)
• On future accountability: "We…cannot charge someone criminally and we can't even really bring, you know, a lawsuit for damages. But…the survivors would be able to bring a lawsuit against the DOJ." (Goldman, 18:59)
• When pressed about specific individuals, Goldman points to Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche as prime actors for scrutiny when the Democrats regain power.

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7. Congressional Oversight vs. Executive Privilege and Delay

Timestamps: 21:39 – 27:15

• Emphasizes distinction between congressional investigation ("sunlight is…the best disinfectant") and criminal prosecution.
• Experience from Trump’s first impeachment guides expectations for "outrageous obstruction" of future investigations.
• Courts are slow to resolve privilege disputes; Trump is expected to invoke executive privilege even around medical records.

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8. Trump’s Health, Mental Acuity, and Congressional Concern

Timestamps: 23:54 – 32:34

• Increased unease about Trump’s physical and especially mental health, citing erratic behavior and repeating falsehoods:
  • "He doesn't remember basic things very often, like…I don't know, recent interview where he was convinced that Thom Tillis was no longer in the Senate. Obviously, he still is there…"
• GOP lawmakers, even if privately concerned, are mostly silent.
  • "I think there are private concerns about that, about many things." (Goldman, 30:36)
• Alarming claim: commanders kept Trump out of the Iran rescue operation’s command center for fear his erratic behavior could jeopardize the mission.

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9. Gerrymandering, Redistricting, and Electoral Optimism

Timestamps: 32:34 – 37:45

• Massive mid-decade, often racially motivated gerrymandering is undermining democracy and driving public frustration.
• Goldman warns against apathy:
  • "The only way to change it is to do the opposite of hide. It is to lean in, to make your voice heard through your vote." (37:38)

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10. The War in Iran, War Powers, and Gas Prices

Timestamps: 38:39 – 45:56

• War in Iran undertaken without Congressional approval; Goldman decries both the process and the impact on the US economy.
  • "This can't just be one man's decision. That is not the way our Constitution works."
• War Powers resolutions have failed, largely due to a Republican majority unwilling to check Trump’s authority.
• "The degree to which House Republicans have completely abdicated their own independent constitutional duty...is as disappointing to me as anything else..." (Goldman, 41:16)
• On rising prices/inflation: significant blame placed on Trump, with focus on lost social benefits and increasing inequality.
  • Goldman advocates for taxing billionaire loans as a lever to generate revenue and support working Americans.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ Loyalty:
  "He has only focused this term on loyalty as the single qualification for hiring pretty much anybody." (Goldman, 03:25)

• On DOJ Cover-Up of Epstein Files:
  "It is clear that the Department of Justice is covering up for Donald Trump. They made up some bogus explanation of attorney client privilege. It is not anything approximating attorney client privilege." (Goldman, 15:24)

• On Accountability:
  "One of the things that we are going to have to do is go back through many of these laws that are predicated on the President believing in the Constitution and following the law and put some teeth into them..." (Goldman, 19:20)

• On Trump’s Mental State:
  "He doesn’t remember basic things very often…he doubles down…It’s hard to know what is a mental health episode or what is actually intentional, that he’s just trying to brainwash the cult followers that he has." (Goldman, 24:50)

• On War Powers and Congressional Abdication:
  "The degree to which House Republicans have completely abdicated their own independent constitutional duty be to be a check and balance on the administration…is as disappointing to me as anything else…" (41:16)

• On Voter Frustration & Action:
  "The only way to change it is to do the opposite of hide. It is to lean in, to make your voice heard through your vote. And if everybody does that, then we can affect change." (Goldman, 37:38)

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Key Takeaways

• Systemic, lasting damage: Under Trump’s second term, DOJ’s credibility is deeply eroded, with top roles filled as a "personal law firm."
• Epstein files still concealed: Goldman alleges an extensive, likely unlawful cover-up of potentially explosive documents implicating Trump’s connections or knowledge regarding Epstein.
• Institutional checks under siege: Existing laws are often toothless if leaders simply choose to ignore them; enforcement relies on good faith.
• First Amendment and press targeted: Veiled and overt threats, FCC misuse, and legal intimidation are "fundamentally un-American" attacks on dissent.
• Health & stability concerns: Goldman's concern over Trump’s mental fitness is repeated, citing erratic behavior and dangerous overconfidence.
• Gerrymandering battle & voting advocacy: Despite an uphill fight, Democrats must urge voters not to succumb to apathy—participation and turnout data still send important signals.
• Economic pressures: Trump blamed for worsening inflation, healthcare cuts, and stripping of social supports.
• Democratic restoration: Should the House flip, Goldman promises aggressive oversight, transparency pushes, and legislative reform.

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Actionable Insights/Future Outlook

• If Democrats regain the House: expect new investigations on DOJ malfeasance, Trump’s health, and redressing institutional breakdowns.
• On accountability: Actual penalties for current DOJ leadership are unlikely for now, but future congressional inquiries and potential survivor lawsuits could advance the search for truth.
• On voting: The message is clear—outrage must be channeled into turnout and engagement to reverse the tide.

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This episode delivers a candid, anxious, and at times deeply frustrated perspective from a leading Democratic lawmaker on how core American institutions, civil liberties, and democratic faith are imperiled—and invites listeners to stay informed and engaged as the fight for oversight and transparency intensifies.

Transcript

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

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[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

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[Congressman Dan Goldman]

it is clear that the Department of Justice is covering up for Donald Trump. They made up some bogus explanation of attorney client privilege. It is not anything approximating attorney client privilege. I am almost certain right now that there is a lot more material that would implicate Donald Trump in some aspect of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking conspiracy. And I don't mean necessarily that Donald Trump is guilty of being a co conspirator. But he was involved in some way and perhaps in more ways than have than we even know about. And that is being covered up. There's no reason for them to cover up two and a half million pages.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I'm Sarah Ewal Weiss in for Joanna Coles. This is the Daily Beast podcast. Our guest today is Congressman Dan Goldman, a Democratic congressman representing large swaths of New York City. He sits on the House Judiciary Committee and prosecuted the first impeachment against President Donald Trump during his first term. Today we discuss the Justice Department taking on the role as Trump's personal attorneys. Will we ever see the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files and the growing concerns about the President's health and decline? But before we jump right in, please take a moment to share this podcast with your friends. Invite them to subscribe to The Daily Beast YouTube channel. We've almost hit 700,000 followers and with your help, we're gunning for 1 million this year. So here's our conversation with Congressman Dan Goldman. Enjoy. Grisman, you are a lawyer. You're a former prosecutor. I wanted to ask you about some comments from President Trump. He praised his acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday and he basically said he was happy with him for keeping him out of jail. And he repeated that a few times. I wanted to ask you what does this tell you about how the president views the Attorney General and the Justice Department?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

Well, it's no surprise that given how many of his former lawyers he has, defense lawyers he's hired to be in the Department of Justice or elsewhere, that that is the litmus test for him. He has only focused this term on loyalty as the single qualification for hiring pretty much anybody. And there's no question that he views the Department of Justice as his personal law firm. So it's not a surprise that he brought his personal attorney first, Pam Bondi, who represented him in the first impeachment trial, and then Todd Blanche and Emil Beauvais, who represented him in his criminal cases leading up to the election. The problem is that Todd Blanch also seems to view it that way. And it's no surprise Donald Trump does. That doesn't mean it's okay. It's, you know, yet another reason why he needs to go. But Todd Blanche knows better, and I know that because I worked alongside Todd Blanch for many years at the U.S. attorney's office, the Southern District of New York. This person I see as our acting Attorney General is a completely different person than the one I worked with in the Southern District of New York. And it is incredibly disappointing to see that someone who knows better is still operating as Donald Trump's personal retribution attorney.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

Do you think the way they have handled this role and how they have changed the Justice Department, is this something that can be reversed? I mean, how much damage is really done here in the long term, do you believe?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

I think there's a tremendous amount of damage that is going to far outlast Donald Trump. First of all, there's been a purge of highly competent, highly experienced, highly qualified prosecutors and agents. So you just don't have the sort of core level of competency, quality and experience that you would want. You can't replace that in a day. So that is going to take a lot of time. But the politicization and the weaponization of this Department of Justice doesn't go away on day one of the next administration because they have undermined the credibility of everything that they do. So it's not just the cases where Todd Blanche is charging the Southern Poverty Law center or Jim Comey or Letitia James or his open and clear political adversaries. That, by the way, is literally what happens in banana republics. That's the first thing the State Department goes around the world telling emerging democracies that they must do to stay on that path towards democracy, which is necessary for us to support them. And yet Here we are doing that, but it's everything else, because you don't know whether something is political or whether something is legitimate. And every person will claim that it is political. And we just have no idea because it may be, you may be the SEC may be investigating some investment firm because the head of that investment firm is a Democratic donor. And so there are so many issues in terms of credibility that are going to take many, many years to recover. And then also we're going to need serious legislation to codify so many of the norms that Trump and his lackeys have destroyed that have really existed since Richard Nixon.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I want to ask you about that because you are up on the Hill. You're rubbing shoulders with a lot of Republican lawmakers. Some of them are also former prosecutors. Some of them are lawyers. I mean, is there an appetite in the future, you believe, to codify some of these things on a bipartisan basis? Where does that stand in Congress in the future?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

I can think of a couple people right off the top of my head who, who are alarmed and outraged by this. They have sort of convinced themselves of the bogus TPS that, oh, you know, you talk about all the weaponization of this Department of Justice, and then they go back and like, well, Biden started it and, you know, let's be real, those allegations are just plainly false. But even to the extent that there was any politicization, the guy's Justice Department charged his own son. Now, he pardoned him, but they charged him. I mean, how are you politicizing and weaponizing the Department of Justice if you're going to charge the president's son? It's just absurd. But they buy into this whole what goes around comes around bs. But I know several former or at least a couple former AUSAs who are not happy with what's going on and I think will be partners in revamping the legislation overseeing the relationship between the Department of Justice and the White House and many of the other internal norms that have just been stomped all over.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I want to go back to Todd Blanche for a moment because he was posting today what appeared to be direct threats to the press. He said, and I'm going to quote any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material. He's talking about classified material. But do you see this as a direct threat on the First Amendment by the administration?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

How do we count the ways that this administration is attacking the First Amendment, the lawsuits against media companies for things that they haven't liked that they said. The threats to take away their licenses by the fcc. Related most recently to Jimmy Kimmel. When the New York Times wrote a expansive story about how the SWAT unit with the FBI was providing personal security to Kash Patel's girlfriend, he started investigating the reporter. And there are now allegations, or at least there's reports that he's investigating. Sarah Fitzpatrick of the Atlantic, who wrote what seems to be a very deeply sourced and damaging story about Kash Patel being drunk on the job. That's all violation of the First Amendment. You cannot use the power of your official office to get retribution against people who say things you don't like. And this is another veiled threat. What I worry about is, you know this. As you point out the classified information, there's always been a wall where those subpoenas or search warrants of journalists are generally frowned upon and only done at a. As a last resort. And we have known many journalists who've been subpoenaed to testify and who have chosen to go to jail rather than testify to preserve their. Their integrity and their sources. But the, the degree. I've actually been surprised that since Todd Blanche has taken over, the degree of weaponization has ratcheted up. That Southern Poverty Law center indictment, as just one example, is one of the most absurd things I've ever read out of the Department of Justice. It is actually internally on the face of the indictment. It undermines the charge within the four corners of the indictment. And it is such an absurd, stupid theory. But what they are clearly doing is they're just using their power as a threat, as intimidation, as, you know, suppression of speech, suppression of dissent. And it is fundamentally un American. There's a reason it's our First Amendment that we can speak up against those who are in power and not be put in jail. And that's what this administration is trying to do.

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[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

You talked about how it feels like the weaponization weaponization has increased under Blanch. I I feel in some ways that the auditions for the role full time as Attorney General as confirmed by the Senate is really going to end up being who's willing to go the furthest for President Donald Trump in some ways. But instead, let's not forget that we're not going to hear the end of Pam Bondi either. And so I do want to just talk about her for a minute, even though she's no longer Attorney General and she skipped out on that role right before she would have had to testify about the Epstein files. Oh, got fired, I should say, before she had to testify about the Epstein files. I wanted to get your thoughts. I know you're not on the House Oversight Committee, but she does still have a scheduled appearance before that committee in the near future, at the near later this month. As a prosecutor, I mean, what would you really want to know from Bondi in terms of the handling of those files? What is top of mind for you there?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

Well, I want to know what's in those 2.5 million files that have not been released based on the way that they released and poorly and you know, illegally redacted as well as what they covered up. Even within those documents, it is clear that the Department of Justice is covering up for Donald Trump. I went to the House floor and exposed one document in particular that they claimed was privileged and they redacted it from the public. But then they allowed Congress to the members of Congress who went to see the files to actually see it and there was nothing in there that should have been redacted. They made up some bogus explanation of attorney client privilege. It is not anything approximating attorney client privilege. And instead it's using these privileges using the various different mechanisms that they are falsely using to cover up. And so I want to know what's in those 2.5 million pages because I am almost certain right now that there is a lot more material that would implicate Donald Trump in some aspect of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking conspiracy. And I don't mean necessarily that Donald Trump is guilty of, of being a co conspirator, but he was involved in some way and perhaps in more ways than have that we even know about. And that is being covered up. There's no reason for them to cover up two and a half million pages. And if they are, one of the things they've said is they're duplicates. If they're duplicates, turn them over. There's no reason not to. But I don't believe they're duplicates because otherwise they would just turn them over. There's nothing to, no reason to hold back duplicates. And so that's a lot of documents that they are withholding without any explanation, which is a violation of the law that was passed, the Epstein Files Transparency act, and is a gross abuse of power to misuse privileges that could potentially give them some cover.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I want to ask you about that because readers have specifically written to me and expressed frustration. They watched the whole process play through of members of Congress literally passing the law to release the Epstein files last summer into the fall and finally towards the end of the year, that being signed by President Trump. And it gave him some hope after a lot of frustrations last summer. Do you believe that anyone in this administration is going to be held accountable for the fact that they have not released those files and violated the law? And if so, when?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

So one of the problems I think that we've learned in the Trump era, especially in Trump 2.0, is our Constitution and our laws presume that the President of the United States follows his oath to faithfully execute the laws. And I don't think our founding Fathers anticipated that we would have a President who, who just doesn't care about the Constitution or the law. And so there are a lot of laws on the books that are being violated, but for which there are no consequences. And it's almost like a self policing thing. So you raise an issue and if a court were to say, oh, this is a Hatch act violation, okay, it's a Hatch act violation, what's the consequence? There's really nothing. And so one of the things that we are going to have to do is go back through many of these laws that are predicated on the President believing in the Constitution and following the law and put some teeth into them, the Epstein Files Transparency act is potentially one of them. I can guarantee you that I will be out front leading the investigations when the Democrats take back the House in January. We, of course, cannot charge someone criminally and we can't even really bring, you know, a lawsuit for damages. But I do think that there's the possibility that survivors would be able to bring a lawsuit against the Department of Justice. And we are going to make sure that there's serious accountability and transparency. What the punishment is, I don't know. Ready or not, summer is coming. And Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance is on now. Right now through May 25th. Get up to 70% off everything home at Wayfair. Plus score amazing doorbuster deals all sale long and surprise flash deals on Memorial Day. We're talking thousands of products at every style and budget. Now is the time to save big on must haves for your patio, backyard and beyond. These savings won't last, so don't wait. Shop Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance now through May 25th.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

Wayfair Every style, every home. You talk about survivors potentially bringing lawsuits. I mean, that goes against the Justice Department that Trump and his allies and minions, if you will, will no longer be a part of. At some point in time. Do the attorney general, do the other people who have propped him up, do you believe they will be held accountable? We have questions about the President himself. But who really do you think in this administration currently can be held accountable

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

for the Epstein files specifically? Yeah, yeah. Well, I think the, the two attorneys general, Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche. And yes, in January 2029, when there's a Democratic president, all of this is still within statute. I would certainly want to look at closely at Pam Bondi's testimony when she appeared in front of us on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the Senate Judiciary Committee. We will, presuming they do not destroy the documents, which would be grossly illegal, we will be able to eventually get them. And that will uncover a lot of information that may be evidence that we will pursue. It's important for people to realize there's a critical difference between a prosecution and a congressional investigation, though I often wish that I still had grand jury criminal subpoena power in Congress. A congressional investigation bears no punishment per se, but sunlight is in many cases the best disinfectant. And that's why the investigations are so important, is to bring out the facts, bring out what actually happened, the evidence. And either the American people can decide or it's significant enough that prosecutors can. And it's not just the doj. Now, it's hard to imagine a state prosecution for the Epstein files, but there are other things that may give rise to state prosecutions. And so what I perceive my role to be in the new Democratic majority in January is going to be to gather that evidence, gather those facts, make the conduct transparent and open to the American public for people to use however they think it's fit.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

You seem very confident in Democrats taking back the House in November. And should that happen, there is another potential line of investigation that Democrats will open. I know you're on the House Judiciary Committee. Ranking member Jamie Raskin has launched his own investigation into President Donald Trump's health. And so there's a push to speak with the president's doctor. There's a push for more information and more information, specifically about some of the testing that has been done about his health. When it comes to what we've seen from him publicly, what we've heard that's happened behind closed doors, what are your biggest concerns when it comes to the 79 year old President and his actions at this time concerning his health, his mental health?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

I think that's the biggest concern from about his conduct as president. I think it's quite clear that his physical health is declining to some degree. But I'm very concerned about his, his mental health. And he seems far more erratic than he ever did before. He doesn't remember basic things very often, like, I don't know, recent interview where he was convinced that Thom Tillis was no longer in the Senate. Obviously he still is there until the end of the year and things like that where that are, you know, obvious and clear to all of us that it's not even just that he makes the mistake and then he's corrected and then he says, oh yeah, it's that he doubles down. And part of it that is difficult to unpack is how much of it is mental health issues and how much of it is that in large part because Donald Trump has successfully convinced close to half the country that what they saw with their own eyes on January 6th actually did not happen. He now believes that he literally can convince anyone of anything, regardless of its veracity or its truthfulness. And that's dangerous because now he literally thinks he's all powerful and he can change people's minds through repetition. And so it's hard to know what is a mental health episode or what is actually intentional, that he's just trying to brainwash the cult followers that he has.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I anticipate with this line of inquiry with Democrats, though, I mean, you're going to get a ton of pushback even if you take control of the House, have the subpoena power when it comes to getting answers from this administration. I mean, do you think you'll actually be able to speak with the president's physician, or where do you anticipate there being the most challenge there?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

So we dealt with this in the first impeachment investigation in 2019, which I, I led. We got no cooperation from the administration. We received no documents other than the whistleblower complaint and the transcript of the call with Zelensky that the White House released after they refused to. And we sort of amplified pressure on them in order to force them to do that, but we were still able to prove the case. And this is something that is not it's not going to be straightforward and it's not going to be simple because we're going to have to be creative in terms of how we obtain information. And there obviously are ways that we are able to do it, and we did it in 2019, and we're going to have to do that again, because there's no question there is going to be outrageous obstruction from this administration. And so I don't know whether that doctor will abide by a congressional subpoena. I don't. You know, one of the issues that we are going to face is based on the Epstein trend Epstein files, where this administration is invoking privileges all over the place that are completely, clearly inapplicable on their face. But the only way to resolve that issue is to go to court. And the problem that we ran into in 2018, 2019 or 2019 rather, is the courts just take a really, really long time. I helped draft a version with, for now, Senator Schiff of the Protecting Our Democracy act, which significantly expedited court resolutions of disputes about executive privilege or congressional subpoenas because it takes way, way too long. And so I don't think I'm, you know, revealing any tips here, but I'm quite confident Donald Trump will invoke executive privilege about the medical care that he received. And that's going to have to be something that, even though on its face is wrong, you need a court to adjudicate that. And that's assuming, of course, he abides by court orders.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

We talk a little bit about Republican colleagues on the Hill when it comes to Trump's help. I want your thoughts on this. I mean, we saw just the president just yesterday talking about the White House he referred to as the shithouse and then immediately said he's been told not to say these things. But it is a kind of a trend of him using more expletives, more foul language. It appears he's having trouble holding back. And I wanted your thoughts. I mean, are you Republicans on Capitol Hill ra really comfortable with the way the president is speaking, with the expletives he's using with the language when they are talking to you in the halls of Congress?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

I think there are private concerns about that, about many things. I mean, just the fact that the military command center for the rescue mission of the downed plane in Iran tried very hard to make sure that Donald Trump was not in the command center because he was so erratic that he may have messed up the mission. That's pretty crazy to say that. No, the commander in chief cannot come into the command center of a significant military operation. But that tells you a lot about what Donald Trump's mental health is, what his, you know, what his mental acuity is, whether he's all there, whether his eroticism is from desperation or from serious issues. And we need to know those answers. And I think that the physical issues that you see with his hands, with his swollen legs and other his gait are getting worse and worse. And he keeps going to the doctor but doesn't reveal anything. Now, traditionally, presidents have disclosed their medical condition because of their importance and the importance of their medical health. Not surprisingly, Donald Trump has bucked that norm and is not doing that. But the American people deserve to know if this president has any physical or mental health issues. And we will continue to press for that information with every lever of power that we have.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

A lot of this information will potentially only come out with pressure from Democrats should they take back the House. And you've expressed the confidence that they will in November. But we're facing this unprecedented mid decade redistricting battle that's playing out. Obviously, we saw the Virginia Supreme Court strike down the Democrat drawn maps in that state which could have allowed Democrats to pick up as many as four seats. Where do you see this gerrymandering fight going between now and November? As you say, you're still confident Democrats will take the majority?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

We are aggressively looking at seats that are R +8, you know, in terms of potential flip opportunities. So I think this is shaping up to be a massive wave that is going to be much greater than, you know, the 10 or 12 or whatever it is. But I don't think the final word has been written on what the districts are going to look like for November. You know, the, the Calais opinion by Alito preserves the Voting Rights Act, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. And it says that in order to prove it, you must show effectively intentional race discrimination. Well, I can't think of much more intentional race discrimination than getting that opinion, immediately stopping ongoing elections and so that you can redraw districts to remove black representatives. And that seems like a very viable claim. So there are going to be lawsuits that remain against the sudden and urgent redistricting of some of these Southern states that to just entirely to get rid of black representation. And so it's not clear at all to me that these will end up being the districts. It is unbelievably frustrating to see how politicized the US Supreme Court in particular has become and how inconsistently they rule on the same issue, depending on whether or not it's for Republicans or against Republicans.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

There's a sense of frustration from many of the people I've spoken with about that and questioning, well, what's the point? And I wanted to get your thoughts and your response to Americans who look at how this is playing out, this redistricting battle and just throw up their hands and say, why even bother? My vote doesn't count. What is your response to that?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

My response is a lot of sympathy because it is as anti Democratic as anything you can find. Gerrymandering generally is a stain on democracy. And this naked partisan, mid decade unprecedented gerrymandering is also. It just exacerbates the problem. And this is part of the reason why Congress is so dysfunctional and why Congress's approval rating is at last I saw 10%. And so people's frustration is completely warranted. I agree 100%. I want to get rid of gerrymandering. I want to get rid of partisan gerrymandering. The vast majority, if not all of the Democrats do. But the only way that we will be able to do that is if we take the majority and we win. And then we can pass a law to do that. But if we are not fighting fire with fire and people who oppose what's going on are not supporting us in this fight, then we will never move past it and we will never be able to fix it. What we need is every single one of those people to show up and vote. Because even if you're in a safe Republican or safe Democratic district, your vote matters. We pay attention to voter turnout. We pay attention to the margin of victory and how it compares to before and after. And much of the sort of quote, mandate unquote that you will hear isn't necessarily how many Democratic seats or Republican seats, et cetera. It is often what the margin is in even seats where there's no question. And that makes a difference. Donald Trump did much better in New York than he had done before, where I am.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

And

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

he cited that as a reason for him to believe that whatever he was preaching was working. He, of course, has betrayed just about every promise that he made. But even though Kamala Harris won New York, she won it by a lot less than the last election. And so that stuff matters. And so I guess I would say I fully understand and sympathize with the apathy, with the frustration, but the only way to change it is to do the opposite of Hyde. It is to lean in, to make your voice heard through your vote. And if everybody does that, then we can affect change.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

Congressman, you mentioned Trump doing better in New York, but breaking his promises. Something that has obviously been front and center for the past two plus months has been the war in Iran. The President has not gone to Congress for approval for this war. He's arguing the ceasefire is, in fact, a pause on that timeline. What, he would seek approval or members of his administration are saying that he's arguing he doesn't need it at all. And in some cases, depending on which day you catch them. And I wanted to ask you, though, when it comes to Congress and its weigh in on this war, what can Congress do at this point? Where does it even stand with lawmakers on Capitol Hill?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

Well, I expect us to have a War Powers resolution on the floor this week, which, if it passes and it's getting closer and closer to passing, would require the administration to stop their military operations in Iran, and so we can voice our disapproval. And I have voted for those resolutions in the past. And I think it's essential that because of the, the, the dreadful way that this has, that this started, that this has been executed, that the, the situation we're in now and the damage to our own economy and gas prices going up, inflation going up, and the American people suffering for the billions of dollars that are being spent over there. This can't just be one man's decision. That is not the way our Constitution works. And if he's not gonna come to Congress for authorization, then we are gonna use our power. We can use our power, I should say, to make him stop. And I think we're getting to the point now where his excuses are so absurd and his interpretation of the law is so absurd that we have to rein him in.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I do have to push back on that a little bit, though, Congressman, because we have seen the war powers resolutions come up multiple times. They have failed so far. Do you actually think that there is a chance of this passing in the near future.

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

I think the 60 day period was a significant hurdle. But what I have found to be so frustrating for this entire presidency is the degree to which House Republicans have completely abdicated their own independent constitutional duty be to be a check and balance on the administration. And I wish that I could sit here and say to you, oh, I'm sure my Republican colleagues will realize that it is absolutely farcical to claim that a temporary ceasefire means that the clock restarts. It's ridiculous. But I don't have any confidence that there will be three of them or three of them or four of them who will do that. And that is as disappointing to me as anything else has been over the last year and a half is the degree to which these Republicans who are in the majority, who have total control, who fly across the country every week to be in the majority so that they can do, you know, move forward with their priorities, literally just roll over for whatever Donald Trump says. And I can guarantee you that that will not be the case when we take back the majority in January.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

I want to end near there because when we talk about the war, we also are talking about the rise in prices. And of course, we saw the consumer price index come out today showing that inflation is continuing to soar. I mean, everyone's seeing it as they go to fill up their car at a gas station. And so I just want to ask you, you talk about Democrats taking the majority between now and November. What are you telling constituents about how prices are moving, what members of Congress can do to address them? What is, what is the message at this point for those who are hurting and will be hurting for some time based on what we're hearing from the administration?

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

Well, Donald Trump promised to bring down prices day one. And here we are a year and a half into his presidency and everything is much worse than what he inherited. And that's across the board. It's not just the cost of groceries and goods and other things. It's that he has led the Republicans to completely yank away tens of millions of Americans health care that he is that he is taking away food, nutrition benefits, you know, from hundreds of thousands, if not millions, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, millions of Americans. He is not only making things more expensive, he is taking away basic, basic government support for the bare necessities. So the question is, are you better off today than you were on January 20, 2025? And the answer almost across the board, unless you are a billionaire or a crypto company or business, the answer is almost entirely no. I'm not. And we have to address that. And I will say that what I talk about is that there are ways that we need to use the levers of Congress. I have introduced a bill that would target the billionaires who pay almost no tax, like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who Pay less than 3% effective tax rate because all their money is in their stock. They don't even sell their stock to take capital gains, which is about half of what the income tax would be. And instead they take loans out and they don't pay any tax on that. So I introduced a bill that would tax those loans. It would generate $30 billion of revenue every single year, 300 billion over 10 years, conservatively. That could make a huge difference in terms of the programs that we fund to help working Americans not just survive, but thrive. And we need to be presenting an affirmative agenda along those lines to the American people so that they understand that we're not just opposed to what Donald Trump is doing, which we are, because it's disastrous, but that we have an affirmative agenda of our own.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

Well, Congressman Dan Goldman, I'm going to leave our viewers with that thought on mind. Are you better off today than you were in 2025 as we head into the very fierce wild midterm season. Thank you so much for joining me.

[Congressman Dan Goldman]

Thank you, Sarah.

[Sarah Ewal Weiss]

That was my conversation with New York Congressman Dan Goldman. What stood out to me is his frustration with how Republicans have handled Donald Trump in his second term. But he did seem to indicate that he believes that maybe some of the tide is turning with Republicans and their willingness to potentially go up against the president in some ways, let's be clear. Also, I found it very interesting what he had to say about whether or not we will see some of those Jeffrey Epstein files moving forward and where members of Congress will take their investigations should Democrats win the House in November. I'm Sarah Ewell Weiss. Again. Please remember to subscribe on YouTube. We're looking for our 1 million followers this year and we thank you all for tuning in and clicking like and subscribing who already have. Thank you so much.

[Podcast Host/Advertiser]

So the good news news is we have so many Beast Tier members now there are too many names to read out. And we really appreciate your support. Thanks to our production team, Ryan Murray, Rachel Passer, Heather Passaro, Neil Rosenhaus.