The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: Trump's Pervy Epstein Bday Card Released & MAGA Allies Run Cover | Patrick McEnroe
Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Michael Kosta (with The Daily Show News Team)
Guest: Patrick McEnroe

OVERVIEW

This episode of The Daily Show dives into recent revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, specifically addressing the release of a bizarre birthday card from Donald Trump to Epstein. The show lampoons the denials by Trump and his allies and explores how the MAGA ecosystem responds to such controversies. The second half pivots to sports, featuring an extended and lively interview with renowned tennis analyst and commentator Patrick McEnroe, exploring both the U.S. Open and broader themes in tennis.

MAJOR SEGMENTS & KEY INSIGHTS

1. The Trump–Epstein Birthday Card Scandal (00:30–12:31)

• Context and Setup:

  • Michael Kosta introduces "the very normal and not shady handling of the Epstein files" and riffs on the improbability of what’s happening in the Trump–Epstein narrative.
  • The show highlights Ghislaine Maxwell’s lack of memory about Trump's involvement and notes her suspicious transfer to a cushy minimum-security prison after speaking with DOJ officials.
    • Quote [03:03]: "Come on, guys... Did you have to do the quid pro quo that fast? You could have at least waited a week..." — Michael Kosta

• Card Release and Media Response:

  • The Epstein estate releases the actual birthday card from Trump to Epstein.
  • Description of the card: A caricature of a woman's body and a cryptic, suggestive message: “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Enigmas never age. Happy birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
    • The signature—crudely placed below the figure’s waist—matches Trump’s distinctive autograph.
    • Quote [04:56]: "The future president’s signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair." — Michael Kosta

• Deniers and Signature Analysis:

  • The White House denies Trump wrote or signed the card. Eric Trump chimes in: "I've seen my father sign a million things. This doesn't look like his signature..." (06:22).
  • The Daily Show mocks the denial, juxtaposing the signature with historical Trump signatures that are clearly identical.
    • Quote [07:19]: "You’ll see all the basic shapes are exactly the same... It’s his signature. It’s his signature." — Michael Kosta

• Republican Deflections:

  • The GOP rushes to defend Trump, deflecting with reference to “auto pens” and, humorously, Joe Biden.
    • Quote [08:31]: “Anybody can do a signature. We’ve seen the auto pen has been used quite a bit with the Biden administration.” — Congressman Tim Burchett (paraphrased by Kosta)
  • The comedy draws a parallel between desperate GOP responses and the absurdity of the situation.

• Second Card & Social Context:

  • Another card from Epstein’s collection is revealed, referencing a “fully depreciated woman” and a fake check from Trump—a grotesque inside joke among Epstein’s circle.
    • Quote [10:05]: “I am shocked and frankly disgusted that Joe Biden’s auto pen did this also...” — Michael Kosta

• Memorable Comedy Bit:

  • Satirical ad for “Trump greeting card collection” pokes fun at the scandal and Trump’s penchant for merchandise (“Make America Greet Again”).

2. SportsWar: US Open & Sports News (13:17–20:23)

• US Open Recap:

  • Michael Kosta and Roy Chang discuss recent audience behavior at the U.S. Open: "People are starting to drink honey deuces at 11 am. So I think it’s just New York." — (14:38)
  • Grand Slam tournaments reflect their host country’s personality—U.S. Open is rowdy; Wimbledon is stuffy; Australian Open “the ball spins the other way.”
    • Quote [15:04]: "We're loud, we're drunk. We're spending $6,000 a month to share one bedroom with four nonbinary tattoo artists, all named Devin." — Roy Chang

• Tennis Etiquette:

  • Kosta, a former professional tennis player, laments rude crowds and noise during matches, favoring the sport’s traditional decorum.

• NFL Opening Week:

  • Focus on Jalen Carter’s ejection for spitting on Dak Prescott: “Between the blood and the brain matter, spit is the cleanest liquid on the field.” — Roy Chang (17:17)

• Artificial Intelligence in Minor League Baseball:

  • Oakland Ballers use an AI manager and win; both hosts debate the pros and cons of AI in sports.
  • Kosta is wary, Chang embraces the evolution: “First, it was the curve ball, then it was black people, now it’s AI.” — Roy Chang (19:19)

3. Interview: Patrick McEnroe on Tennis, the US Open, and the Sport's Evolution (21:29–41:14)

• Early Family Tennis History:

  • Patrick grew up in Queens, following his older brother John McEnroe into tennis after a coach recognized John’s talent.
    • Quote [24:27]: “He saw John at the tryouts and said... We're going to give him a scholarship. He's going to be number one in the world.”

• Personal Achievements and Sibling Rivalry:

  • Patrick reminisces about his ranking: "I didn't even know they ranked people that high..." — Patrick to Michael Kosta (22:38, joking about Kosta’s 860th ranking).
  • Talks about being world #28 in singles and #3 in doubles.

• US Open (Men’s): Sinner vs. Alcaraz Era:

  • McEnroe describes the new men’s rivalry: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) vs. Jannik Sinner (Italy).
    • “I've never seen two guys play at this type of speed and tempo… these guys were raising the bar.” (25:48)
  • He highlights Alcaraz's charisma, versatility, and the intense rivalry: each player pushing the other for improvement.

• US Open (Women’s): Amanda Anisimova’s Redemption:

  • American Amanda Anisimova bouncing back from a brutal loss (6-0, 6-0) in a major final to defeat her rival later—sparking discussions of resilience and mental health.
    • Quote [30:14]: “She handled that with a lot of grace... She left the court for a couple minutes to gather herself. She came back, was really appreciative, and I think she... faced it head on.”

• Mental Health & Endurance in Tennis:

  • The growing openness in discussing athlete mental health ("I think it's really healthy that players are not shy about discussing it… Amanda’s a perfect example", 32:23).
  • Tennis teaches you to deal with loss and independence: “Most of the time you get your ass kicked, even when you're number 28 in the world.” — Patrick (38:46)

• US Open’s Changing Culture & Commercialization:

  • The shift from a pure tennis event to entertainment spectacle: “US Open has become more about the show, the entertainment value…” — Patrick (34:07)
  • Crowds are bigger, rowdier, sometimes at the expense of tennis tradition.

• American Men's Tennis Hopes:

  • Discussion on the long drought of American men’s champions; optimism about young players: “Taylor Fritz is the fourth or fifth best player on the planet, but he’s got Sinner and Alcaraz... before that, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer. That's the challenge.” — Patrick (37:18)

• Life Lessons from Tennis:

  • Both hosts reflect on what the sport taught them: resilience, handling failure, independence, and even (joking) lessons in cheating as kids.
    • Quote [40:54]: "Tennis really teaches you that independence you need... to be able to handle stuff on your own." — Patrick McEnroe

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• [03:03] Michael Kosta: "Did you have to do the quid pro quo that fast? You could have at least waited a week..."
• [04:56] Michael Kosta: "The future president’s signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair."
• [07:19] Michael Kosta: "...it's his signature. It's his signature. It's his."
• [10:05] Michael Kosta: "I'm shocked and frankly disgusted that Joe Biden's auto pen did this also."
• [15:04] Roy Chang: "We're loud, we're drunk, we're spending $6,000 a month to share one bedroom with 4 nonbinary tattoo artists, all named Devin."
• [19:19] Roy Chang: "First, it was the curve ball, then it was black people, now it’s AI."
• [24:27] Patrick McEnroe: "He saw John at the tryouts and said...We're going to give him a scholarship. He's going to be number one in the world."
• [30:14] Patrick McEnroe: "She handled that with a lot of grace...She left the court for a couple minutes to gather herself. She came back, was really appreciative, and I think she...faced it head on."
• [38:46] Patrick McEnroe: "Most of the time you get your ass kicked, even when you're number 28 in the world."
• [40:54] Patrick McEnroe: "Tennis really teaches you that independence you need...to handle stuff on your own."

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• 00:30–12:31: Trump–Epstein Card Scandal & Media Circus
• 13:17–20:23: SportsWar (US Open fan behavior, NFL, AI in baseball)
• 21:29–41:14: Patrick McEnroe interview (family history, US Open, mental health, commercialization, American tennis)
• 38:46: Patrick’s reflection on the life lessons gained from tennis

TONE & STYLE

As expected from The Daily Show, the episode blends sharp satire, factual analysis, irreverence, and candid interviews. The humor is self-aware and frequently cutting, but moments of genuine sports nostalgia and earnest reflection come through strongly in the McEnroe segment.

CONCLUSION

This episode delivers a comedic yet incisive breakdown of the Trump–Epstein scandal, mocking the endless spin and denials with The Daily Show’s signature snark. The deep-dive interview with Patrick McEnroe offers tennis lovers rare insights—about top rivalries, mental health, and the changing face of professional tennis—while also maintaining the show’s fast-paced, irreverent style.

Listeners leave with a clear understanding of the Trump–Epstein news event’s absurdity and seriousness, as well as an appreciation for the high drama and humanity at the heart of world-class tennis.