The David Pakman Show

Episode: 11/19/25 — "Trump loses Epstein vote as files will be released, GOP terrified"
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: David Pakman

Overview

In this episode, David Pakman unpacks a historic Congressional vote compelling the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, analyzes the political fallout for Donald Trump and the Republican Party, and dives into implications for victims. The episode also covers Trump’s controversial reception of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a major blow to GOP redistricting efforts in Texas, and growing farmer backlash against Trump in South Dakota. A significant portion includes an interview with Eric Fudali, prominent civil rights attorney representing Epstein survivors.

Key Topics and Discussions

1. Congress Votes to Release Epstein Files

• [00:00–03:09]
  • The House (427-1) and Senate (by unanimous consent) voted to release the Epstein files, signaling overwhelming bipartisan support.
  • Only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) voted no, citing concerns over privacy and criminal justice procedure.
  • Pakman criticizes Higgins' justification as legally and factually hollow, noting precedents for such disclosures and built-in protections in the bill.
• Notable Quote (Pakman):

  "Congress has the authority to require transparency when there are cases of overwhelming public interest. This is one of them. Especially when, remember, the criminal case is closed and the defendant is dead." ([05:39])

2. Skepticism About True Transparency

• [11:50–19:37]
  • Pakman cautions that, despite the vote, Republicans are unlikely to fully release unredacted files, suggesting multiple strategies to delay, sanitize, or control the narrative:
    • Release only the "safe" portions.
    • Preemptively shape right-wing media coverage to deflect blame.
    • Cherry-pick information to implicate Democrats.
    • Heavily redact Trump-adjacent or powerful Republican donor information.
    • Overwhelm with data dumps, or distract with other crises.
  • Notable Quote:

    "There is no planet in our solar system where Republicans just shrug and hand over the full Epstein files. Not at this point. Not with the stakes this high and not without a fight." ([14:30])

3. Trump Hosts Saudi Crown Prince Amid Scandal

• [20:41–34:19]
  • As the vote unfolds, Trump gives a lavish White House welcome to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, notorious for human rights abuses and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
  • Trump defends his guest and attacks reporters who question the event or ask about Epstein files.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Trump: "It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible, terrible reporter." ([26:09])
    • Pakman (reacting): "You know what it means to say a journalist's question is insubordinate? It means you don't like journalism." ([26:25])
    • Trump (on Khashoggi): "As far as this gentleman is concerned, he's done a phenomenal job. You're mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that." ([30:38])

4. MAGA Mike Johnson (Speaker) and the GOP in Disarray

• [35:28–39:55]
  • Speaker Mike Johnson struggles to justify his reversal on the Epstein files vote, insisting the GOP has "always been for transparency."
  • Johnson questioned about possible redactions in the final release; seems evasive and cites statutory ambiguities.
  • Right-wing commentators like Benny Johnson criticize Mike Johnson’s stonewalling, signaling intra-party fractures.
  • Notable Moment:
    • Benny Johnson: "Enough, enough, enough. I've heard it... But the political reality is that the evils of what Jeffrey Epstein did... that's more important to destroy and for the American people to understand..." ([39:14])

5. Interview: Eric Fudali, Attorney for Epstein Victims

• Segment: [42:39–59:17]
  • Victims’ Perspective:
    • Fudali laments that victims are often sidelined while political battles play out.
    • Explains practical and psychological barriers to victims naming perpetrators, including fear of retaliation, financial intimidation (threat of lawsuits/countersuits), and lasting psychological trauma.
    • Notable Quote:

      "The new thing for powerful defendants is to sue — is to countersue, for defamation, for malicious prosecution... It is really stressful to be sued, especially if you don’t have millions to pay lawyers." ([44:52])

  • Trump and the Files:
    • None of Fudali’s 11 clients have directly accused Trump of abuse, but emails suggest a closer relationship with Epstein than Trump admits; Epstein seemed to believe he had leverage over Trump.
    • Fudali finds Trump's intense effort to suppress the files "baffling... and even suspicious."
    • Notable Quote:

      "Trump has spent a baffling amount of time and effort hiding these files. That leaves everyone, including the survivors, really sort of baffled and... suspicious." ([50:03])

  • Investigation, Trust, and the MeToo Context:
    • Fudali stresses that going public as a victim is not an easy or lucrative path, and lawyers like him do robust vetting ("trust but verify").
    • Observes varying public receptivity, mentioning MeToo backlash.
    • Notable Quote:

      "There is very little in it for a woman to publicly accuse a high-profile person... It's a terrible, inefficient, and unpleasant way to get money." ([52:17])

  • Epstein's Death:
    • While not a conspiracy theorist, Fudali expresses distrust in the official suicide narrative due to suspicious circumstances and a long pattern of special treatment.
    • Notable Quote:

      "Epstein continues to get special treatment beyond the grave, which is unlike any criminal I've ever seen in my life. He's still treated better than criminals who are alive." ([59:00])

6. Texas Gerrymandering Struck Down

• [61:37–64:55]
  • A federal court invalidates Texas' new congressional map as unconstitutional race-based gerrymandering, derailing GOP plans for extra seats in 2026.
  • California, by contrast, used a public referendum for its redistricting—its new map stands.
  • Pakman highlights the irony given GOP rhetoric about "Democrat cheating."
  • Notable Quote:

    "One of the most brazen election rigging schemes of the cycle gets crushed in a red state by a federal court for violating the Constitution... It’s not just embarrassing. This really goes to the core of how Republicans have kept power." ([63:20])

7. Farmers and Ranchers in South Dakota Turn on Trump

• [66:29–69:38]
  • South Dakota, deep Trump territory, sees a revolt among farmers over tariffs, collapsing prices, and beef import policies.
  • Multiple farmers interviewed harshly criticize Trump's trade moves, economic failures, and corporate favoritism.
  • Pakman interprets this as a sign of major trouble for Trump’s base.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • South Dakota Farmer: "We're going to have record yields and we're going to have less than break-even prices for our farmers." ([67:43])
    • Pakman: "Even Trump's base is now kind of realizing this is a fake, whole America first thing. It was never real. It was never for the workers... and it was definitely not for the ranchers and the farmers." ([69:15])

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Pakman ([14:30]):
  “There is no planet in our solar system where Republicans just shrug and hand over the full Epstein files. Not at this point. Not with the stakes this high and not without a fight.”
• Trump ([26:09]):
  "It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible, terrible reporter."
• Pakman ([26:25]):
  “You know what it means to say a journalist's question is insubordinate? It means you don't like journalism.”
• Trump ([30:38]):
  “As far as this gentleman is concerned, he’s done a phenomenal job. You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about... he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.”
• Eric Fudali ([44:52]):
  "The new tool for powerful defendants is to countersue... They could pay attorneys for the rest of their lives to just continue to file frivolous lawsuits, nonsense lawsuits against victims."
• Eric Fudali ([50:03]):
  "Trump has spent a baffling amount of time and effort hiding these files... it's really sort of baffling, and I would even go as far to say suspicious as to why he has tried so hard to keep these files private."
• South Dakota Farmer ([67:43]):
  "We're going to have record yields and we're going to have less than break-even prices for our farmers."
• Pakman ([69:15]):
  "Even Trump's base is now kind of realizing this is a fake, whole America first thing. It was never real. It was never for the workers... and it was definitely not for the ranchers and the farmers."
• Eric Fudali ([59:00]):
  "Epstein continues to get special treatment beyond the grave, which is unlike any criminal I've ever seen in my life. He's still treated better than criminals who are alive."

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Congressional Votes on Epstein Files: [00:00–03:09]
• GOP Motives & Transparency Skepticism: [11:50–19:37]
• Trump Welcomes MBS – Media Fallout: [20:41–34:19]
• GOP Infighting over Redactions: [35:28–39:55]
• Eric Fudali Interview (Victim Representation/Implications): [42:39–59:17]
• Texas Gerrymandering & Contrast with California: [61:37–64:55]
• South Dakota Farmers on Trump: [66:29–69:38]

Summary

This episode delivers a rapid-fire, incisive analysis of the dramatic Epstein files vote and casts a skeptical eye on GOP claims of transparency. Pakman explores how Trump’s political maneuvering and Republican party infighting might still shield powerful interests, while reporters and victims face ongoing struggles for truth. The episode's heart—an interview with a victims’ attorney—grounds the political saga in the stories and fears of the abused. Elsewhere, Texas’ GOP is smacked down by the courts, and an unexpected rebellion brews among Trump’s traditional farmer base.

Listened or not, you’ll come away with a nuanced, critical, and often biting summary of one of the most consequential political and social news weeks of 2025.