Podcast
The Epstein Files Book Club
Hosted by Elise Hu and Jena Friedman · EN
A show where comedian Jena Friedman and journalist Elise Hu break down the latest revelations from the trove of documents released about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sprawling network of powerful people. We're trying to understand what’s real, what’s not and what we can do about it.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Trumpworld’s Other Sex Trafficking Scandal, with Brian Beutler
1w ago00:50:18Tap to summarizeThe Trump administration may be on the verge of a “second Epstein scandal” that could prove “worse” in some ways, according to this week’s guest, political journalist Brian Beutler. Brian, Elise and Jena discuss the alarming abuse of girls and women at the hands of right-wing influencers the Tate Brothers, the striking (and perhaps not well-known) similarities with the Epstein operation, and Trump world’s significant ties with both. Mentioned in this episode Bloomberg: BofA, Chase, Deustche Bank Enable Epstein, Senator Says Santa Fe New Mexican: New Mexico AJ Sues Todd Blanche for Epstein Records The Guardian: DOJ Appears To Ignore New Mexico Deadline Business Insider: How Jeffrey Epstein’s Island Became a Nightmare for Influencers The New Yorker: Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse Brian Beutler’s Substack Off Message Politix podcast Call Your Reps with 5Calls Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com 💼 For business inquiries & sponsorship 👉 https://socialdb.xyz/podcast/the-epstein-files-book-club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Covert Affairs with Murtaza Hussain
2w ago00:38:14Tap to summarizeWas Epstein a spy? Our guest says he didn’t need to be. Instead, investigative reporter Murtaza Hussain of Dropsite News explains how Epstein was far more powerful by using his contacts as a kind of global “fixer,” facilitating security agreements and arms sales for Israel, working with Emiratis to further their interests in Africa, establishing a backchannel between Israel and Russia during the Syrian Civil War, and more. Hussain unpacks the way Epstein was a player in a “replacement establishment” — allowing him to make end-runs around traditional governmental institutions and operate largely above the law. Mentioned in this episode Politico: Todd Blanche ‘conceded’ violating law on Epstein files Federal Judge’s ruling on DOJ violating Epstein Files Transparency Act Daily Mail: Tate Brothers party with Trump and Melania’s matchmaker WHCA Katharine Graham Award to the WSJ for Epstein reporting NYT: Profile on Karyna Shuliak Forbes: What Trump Suing BBC Could Reveal About His Finances Detroit Free Press: Sexual Abuse and Assult Investigation Underway at Interlochen JKBrown Substack: Another Epstein Recruiter Found Dead Dropsite News Murtaza Hussain on Twitter Dropsite: Epstein and Israel series Dropsite: Epstein helped sell a surveillance state to Cote d'Ivoire Dropsite: Jeffrey Epstein and the Mossad: How The Sex-Trafficker Helped Israel Build a Backchannel to Russia Amid Syrian Civil War Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The British Component: Disorder Podcast Cross-Post
3w ago00:44:44Tap to summarizeIf you can buy a royal seal of approval — like Jeffrey Epstein did with former Prince Andrew — you get the keys to some of the most influential people in the world. In today’s crossover episode from our friends across the pond at the Disorder podcast, host Jason Pack is joined by British historian Andrew Lownie, author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. The pair look at what made Andrew’s personality so easily corruptible, how Andrew’s narcissism and megalomania were fueled, and why there could be more nasty revelations about what the royals have been up to yet to come. Plus, they discuss making the royal family more accountable, transparent, and better at serving the British people. Elise and Jena will be back next week. Mentioned in this episode Disorder podcast Entitled: The Rise and Fall of House of York, by Andrew Lownie Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →What Ghislaine Maxwell Knows with Barbara Shearer
Jul 1700:34:30Tap to summarizeIn this week’s headlines, Todd Blanche is grilled in his Senate confirmation hearing, Goldman Sachs exec Kathy Ruemmler goes before House Oversight, and the FBI admits it made training videos to teach Epstein file redaction. Then, we zoom in on Ghislaine Maxwell, the only Epstein co-conspirator currently behind bars. In this episode, Ghislaine Maxwell documentarian Barbara Shearer explains the stunning parallels between Maxwell’s fraudster father and Jeffrey Epstein, both of whom died under mysterious circumstances, and what she believes will happen next for Epstein’s longtime shadow. Mentioned in this episode Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell Barbara Shearer’s imdb BBC: Epstein “Mistakes” and Trump Ties - Key Takeaways from Blanche Hearing New Republic: FBI Admits Training Videos Exist The Independent: Kathy Ruemmler before House Oversight The Wrap: JD Vance admits administration mishandled Epstein files release InTouch: Casey Wasserman slashes the price of his LA home CBC: Fashion mogul Peter Nygard found guilty of sexual assault in Montreal The Guardian: The Murky Life and Death of Robert Maxwell Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →There Are No Good Billionaires with Tim Schwab
Jul 1000:44:27Tap to summarizeWhat are the ties that bind men like Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein? Investigative journalist and author Tim Schwab joins the show to explain the various and unsavory ways that Gates and Epstein were connected, details from the Gates testimony before the House Oversight committee and the new questions it raises, and the risks of an unregulated world of private philanthropy. Mentioned in this episode Tim Schwab on Substack The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning with the Myth of the Good Billionaire by Tim Schwab Bill Gates testimony at House Oversight transcript Fortune: How Jeffrey Epstein leveraged a prestigious U.N.-affiliated nonprofit—and the Gates Foundation—to control women and keep them in his orbit BBC: Bill Gates said Epstein Wanted a Relationship People: Bill Gates Had 'Spoken' with Jeffrey Epstein About His Nobel Prize Ambitions: Source WSJ: How Epstein Inserted Himself Into a Split Between Bill Gates and a Top Gates Adviser Drop Site: Epstein Received Sensitive Military Intelligence Amid Gates Foundation Polio Campaign in Pakistan Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Deadline for the DOJ with Anne P. Mitchell
Jul 300:33:49Tap to summarizeThe deadline has come for the Justice Department to release more files related to Jeffrey Epstein, after a federal judge concluded that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This ruling came as a result of a lawsuit brought by Katie Phang, a lawyer and political commentator, and on this week’s show, Jena and Elise are joined by lawyer Anne P. Mitchell to explain the 44-page order from the judge, and what comes next in the push for more transparency and accountability. Mentioned in this episode The Hill: James Comer Issues Two Subpoenas to Leon Black, on NDAs ABC News: Doug Band at House Oversight NYT: Supreme Court Lets $5 Million Sex Abuse Verdict Against Trump Stand WSJ: Buffett Skips Midyear Donation to Gates Foundation Katie Phang explains the ruling in her favor Anne P. Mitchell’s Notes from the Front Substack Judge Sullivan’s 44-page ruling Call your reps with 5Calls.org Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Everyone's Named, Now What? Conspiracy, She Wrote Cross-Post
Jun 2600:47:41Tap to summarizeThe full transcript of House Oversight's interview of Lesley Groff, the woman Epstein called his "right-hand," is now available. Jena offers a recap. Then, in a cross-post from the Conspiracy She Wrote podcast, Elise and Jena share the backstory of bringing this podcast to life, what keeps them going, and what to make of all the women who explicitly and implicitly aided in Epstein's decades of abuse and trafficking. Mentioned in this Episode Conspiracy, She Wrote with Cristen Conger Lesley Groff's testimony at House Oversight Bill Gates at House Oversight Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Epstein's Fixer, Michael Wolff
Jun 1900:38:58Tap to summarizeNearly 2,000 emails between writer Michael Wolff and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein reveal the inner dynamics of their close relationship, and the way that Wolff managed Epstein's public reputation all while maintaining a reputation as a "journalist." Also, researcher Ellie Leonard scrutinizes the giant block of time that's missing from the DOJ's public files, and the curious relationship between Epstein and the Saudis. Mentioned in this episode NYT: The Untold Story of Epstein’s Death NYT: Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files Regime Change, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Bloomberg: Epstein Weighed Buying a Plane from Apollo’s Mark Rowan Front Page Detectives: Jay Clayton nomination and his ties to Epstein EFBC: William Cohan episode on Leon Black CNN: Survivors meet with James Comer, push for investigating leads The Nerve: Curious Connection between Michael Wolff and Jeffrey Epstein (Ellie Leonard's piece) ship-filthy-rich The Epstein Files by Julie K Brown, on Substack Blue Amp Media Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →FSB Femmes? With Scott Stedman
Jun 1200:46:15Tap to summarizeWhat do the files show about Jeffrey Epstein's ties to The Kremlin? Investigative journalist Scott Stedman of The Newsground joins the show to share what he's found after following the records and the money. We explore the stories of two Russian women who appear thousands of times in the files, but have escaped heavy media scrutiny. One, Svetlana Pozhidaeva, a longtime Epstein gatekeeper , and the other, Kira Dikhtyar, who's linked to Vladmir Putin’s longtime mistress. Mentioned in this episode The Newsground Politico: Leslie Groff testifies People: Bill Gates says Epstein tried to blackmail him over affairs Washington Post: This agent sent models to meet Epstein Reuters: Epstein abused them, the Justice Department exposed them Newsground: Epstein Insider Revealed as Daughter of FSB Translator Newsground: Russian Model Procured Dozens of Young Women for Epstein Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →A Little Less Devastated with Molly Jong-Fast
Jun 500:31:52Tap to summarizePolitical commentator Molly Jong-Fast joins Elise and Jena to talk through the recent interview of former Attorney General Pam Bondi by House Oversight, new claims about Melania Trump’s backstory, and what she’d like to see happen now that Epstein Files Transparency Act co-author Rep. Thomas Massie is a lame duck in Congress. Plus, this week’s headlines offer some more proof that we’re living in a simulation. Mentioned in the Episode Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast POLITICO: Bondi shifts responsibility to Todd Blanche Video: Robert Garcia on Pam Bondi’s interview at House Oversight NYT: Epstein banked his sperm years before his death NBC News: Lawmakers in New Mexico to subpoena DOJ, FBI CNN: Justice Department launches investigation into E. Jean Carroll Daily Beast: Melania named in bombshell new Epstein claims Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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