The David Pakman Show: Trump in Epstein Files, Tulsi Tries to Save Him, MAGA Revolts (Released July 24, 2025)

Hosted by David Pakman

Introduction: Explosive Revelations About Trump and Epstein

The episode opens with David Pakman introducing groundbreaking news: former President Donald Trump's name has been officially included in the Jeffrey Epstein files, a revelation that directly contradicts Trump's recent denials. Pakman emphasizes the gravity of this development, noting, “Trump's deceit, lies, and attempts to smother this information is the behavior of a person with a guilty conscience, not someone who believes that they are innocent” (00:07).

Trump’s Denial and the DOJ’s Suppression Efforts

Pakman delves into the intricacies of Trump's denial regarding his presence in the Epstein files. Despite Trump's assertions that he was not informed about his inclusion, evidence from the Wall Street Journal reveals that Attorney General Pam Bondi explicitly briefed Trump on his name appearing in the files multiple times (02:13). Pakman critiques Trump’s contradictory statements, highlighting, “Donald Trump lie down, brief” (02:35), underscoring the inconsistency between Trump's claims and the documented briefings.

Pam Bondi’s Briefing with Trump: Unveiling the Truth

Attorney General Pam Bondi's meeting with Trump is scrutinized, where Bondi reportedly assured Trump that the Epstein files were fabricated, attributing their creation to figures like James Comey and former administrations (02:35). Pakman points out the improbability of Bondi and the DOJ maintaining such a cover-up, suggesting, “They all know Trump's name is in the files. They all, they've been lying about it” (02:58).

MAGA Base's Reaction: A Sense of Betrayal and Confusion

The revelation has sent shockwaves through Trump's MAGA base, who now feel betrayed as the long-promised exposure of global elites tied to Epstein starts to unravel. Pakman explains, “The MAGA base is completely melting down because for years Donald Trump and his allies have been saying, we will expose the global elites tied to Epstein” (03:00). The sealing of the files has ignited anger and distrust within the base, seeing it as a betrayal rather than a simple containment of information.

DOJ’s Internal Scramble Amidst the Scandal

Within the Department of Justice, high-ranking officials like FBI Director Cash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino are reportedly pushing to release more of the Epstein files to preserve the DOJ’s credibility. This internal conflict is described as creating “the biggest backlash that Trump has faced from his base ever in his 10 years in the political world” (05:00).

Trump’s Legal Strategy: Appointing Todd Blanche to Meet Maxwell

In an attempt to mitigate the scandal, Trump has dispatched his former lawyer, now Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, to negotiate with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice. Pakman notes, “Trump is sending his team to speak to Ghislaine Maxwell... This is Trump's newest fixer” (07:00). Blanche’s involvement is portrayed as a strategic move to control the narrative and extract favorable information from Maxwell.

Meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell: Trump's Desperate Measures

Pakman discusses the potential implications of Trump’s team meeting with Maxwell. Blanche has indicated that Maxwell might offer valuable information in exchange for immunity, raising suspicions that Trump is leveraging possible deals to silence damaging testimony. Pakman speculates, “Maybe there could be a pardon in the works if you shut your mouth” (09:00), highlighting the ethical and legal concerns surrounding this maneuver.

Tulsi Gabbard's Role: A Diverting Force Amidst the Chaos

To further distract from the Epstein scandal, Trump is utilizing former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Initially marginalized by Trump, Tulsi is now thrust into a role where she promotes unfounded conspiracy theories about Barack Obama, claiming, “Barack Obama attempted a coup against Trump. Barack Obama committed treason” (12:37). Pakman criticizes this move as “panic control,” suggesting Tulsi is being used as a tool to divert attention from the pressing Epstein issues.

Tulsi’s Press Briefing: Propagating Conspiracies

During a press briefing with Caroline Levitt, Tulsi Gabbard aggressively attacks Obama’s legacy, insinuating deep-seated corruption without presenting concrete evidence. When challenged, she deflects by accusing Obama’s office of manufacturing intelligence, further fueling MAGA’s conspiratorial mindset. Pakman observes, “This is just exploding within MAGA” (15:03), indicating that Tulsi’s statements are intensifying existing beliefs rather than addressing the core issues.

Trump’s Social Media Frenzy: Desperate Attempts to Regain Control

In response to the escalating scandal, Trump has ramped up his presence on social media platforms like Truth Social. Pakman describes Trump’s posts as “unhinged and deranged,” including spreading conspiracy articles and memes to regain his base’s favor (21:00). This behavior is interpreted as indicative of Trump’s desperation and fear regarding the potential fallout from the Epstein files revelation.

Impact on the MAGA Base: Amplifying Conspiracies and Distrust

The combined efforts of Trump’s legal maneuvers and Tulsi’s conspiratorial rhetoric have further entrenched MAGA followers into believing in widespread cover-ups and elite conspiracies. Pakman explains, “MAGA now, which already has started, 50% of Republicans as of last week's polling, believe that there is a cover-up taking place here by the Trump administration” (30:50). This deepens the division and mistrust within the base, making reconciliation and fact-based discourse increasingly challenging.

Interview with Tulsi Gabbard: Scrutinizing Democratic Strategies

Later in the episode, Pakman interviews Tulsi Gabbard, who criticizes the current Democratic administration’s immigration policies and internal party strategies. She highlights how policies aimed at deportations are more about showmanship than effective enforcement, stating, “They just care about the show, to scare and intimidate people” (37:37). Tulsi advocates for a more empathetic and results-driven approach, emphasizing the disproportionate targeting of Latino communities and the high costs associated with ineffective immigration enforcement.

Congressional Oversight and Facility Visits: Uncovering Harsh Realities

Discussing congressional oversight, Tulsi shares her experiences attempting to visit detention facilities, only to be turned away under dubious pretexts like exaggerated protest threats. She criticizes the clandestine nature of these facilities, pointing out, “They are really where the most egregious overcrowding is” (44:42). This underscores the administration’s reluctance to allow transparency and accountability within immigration enforcement operations.

Broader Implications: Democratic Party’s Future and Voter Connection

Pakman and Tulsi delve into the Democratic Party’s challenges moving forward, particularly regarding reconnecting with disillusioned voters. Tulsi emphasizes the need for the party to address real issues like the cost of living and systemic injustices rather than relying on superficial talking points. She asserts, “We have to really tackle that. We need big ideas, like the housing affordability problem” (53:31), advocating for a more grounded and action-oriented political strategy.

Conclusion: Pakman’s Analysis of Trump's Desperation and Democratic Responses

In wrapping up, Pakman reflects on Trump’s tactics as emblematic of a broader authoritarian streak, where personal interests overshadow national integrity. He criticizes Trump's inconsistent application of presidential immunity, especially when targeting former leaders, and warns of the dangerous precedent it sets for political accountability. Pakman underscores the necessity for the Democratic Party to adopt a more resilient and issue-focused approach to regain voter trust and effectively counteract Trump's destabilizing influence.

Key Quotes:

• David Pakman: “Trump's deceit, lies, and attempts to smother this information is the behavior of a person with a guilty conscience, not someone who believes that they are innocent.” (00:07)

• Pam Bondi: “Attorney General Pam Bondi, a very, very quick briefing... these files were made up by Comey, they were made up by Obama, they were made up by the Biden...” (02:35)

• Caroline Levitt: “The implications of this are far-reaching and have to do with the integrity of our Democratic Republic.” (12:37)

• Tulsi Gabbard: “They don't really care. They're just trying to meet this goal.” (39:22)

• David Pakman: “Tulsi being willing to lay down and let Trump walk all over her and push this completely evidence-free Obama treason sedition conspiracy theory is working to put her back in Trump's good graces.” (18:54)

Note: This summary omits advertisements, introductions, and non-content sections to focus solely on the episode's substantive discussions and insights.