The Flo Show, No Filter

Episode: The Trump-Epstein Letter Controversy
Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Flo

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the recent controversy surrounding an alleged birthday letter from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Flo discusses the Wall Street Journal's reporting on the letter, unpacks his approach to reporting controversial stories, and addresses the resulting backlash from strongly partisan listeners—especially Trump supporters. The episode also covers Diddy's (Sean Combs) upcoming court appearance and weaves in the show’s signature community interaction, humor, and pop culture references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Flo’s Approach to Reporting and Listener Reactions

Timestamps: 09:20 – 28:00

• Reporting Without Spin:
  Flo emphasizes his independence and commitment to sharing stories from all sides, regardless of political allegiance. He expresses frustration with listeners who attack him personally when he reports stories critical of Trump, despite not offering personal opinions in these instances.

  "I don't gotta do no research when I'm just recording a story from a publication and asking y'all what do y'all think about it? ... Don't try to attack me because ... when I'm merely talking about, hey, y'all, this an article that everybody talking about." – Flo [13:13]

• Value of Independence in Media:
  Flo repeatedly asserts his pride in being an independent thinker, unbound to either Democratic or Republican narratives. He encourages listeners to form their own opinions rather than attacking messengers of news.

• Listener Sensitivity:
  Flo notes that a small but vocal portion of his audience, whom he calls "heavy Trump supporters," often respond defensively and personally to reports that reflect negatively on Trump.

  "I love being independent because some of y'all is annoying. I take articles from every publication." – Flo [16:00]

2. The Trump-Epstein Letter Controversy

Timestamps: 51:50 – 1:12:00

• Background on the Story:
  The controversy centers on a Wall Street Journal article reporting a letter allegedly sent by Trump to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The letter features a drawing of a naked woman and a Trump signature stylized to resemble pubic hair. The Journal claims to have reviewed the letter among other correspondence received by Epstein.

• Letter Details:
  Flo describes the letter:

  "It contains several lines of typewritten text. Frame by outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand drawn with a heavy marker... In the future, President's signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair." – Flo [1:06:13]

  He also quotes from the voiceover transcript reportedly included with the card.

• Trump’s Denials:
  Trump, interviewed by the Journal, categorically denies writing the letter:

  "This is not me. This is a fake. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story. I never wrote a picture in my life... It's not my language. It's not my words." – Quoting Trump [1:09:00]

• Audience Reaction:
  Flo runs an informal poll:

  • Listeners are asked to vote "1" if they believe the letter is real and "2" if they believe it’s fake.
  • The divided audience demonstrates how polarizing the story is.

• Addressing Criticism:
  Flo underscores that backlash should be directed at the publication or the facts, not at him as a reporter:

  "If you have a problem with it, take your ass to the Wall Street Journal's... website." – Flo [1:11:00]

3. Community Debate: Fact vs. Insult

Timestamps: 1:12:00 – 1:22:00

• Encouraging Productive Discussion:
  Flo pushes back on audience members who use insults instead of evidence when debating controversial subjects, advocating civil discourse based on facts.

  "If you want to say Trump didn't write it... just say what you think. Prove it. We all ears." – Flo [1:14:49]

• Dershowitz as a Source:
  A debate unfolds regarding Alan Dershowitz’s credibility, as some cite him saying Trump had nothing to do with Epstein. Other listeners argue Dershowitz himself was accused in the Epstein case.

  • Notable exchange:

    "So, Brian, what is your rebuttal to that?" – Flo [1:19:00]

• Modeling Good Debate:
  Flo praises listeners who provide sources, arguments, or thoughtful rebuttals, highlighting the value of platforming such discussion.

4. Diddy's Upcoming Court Appearance

Timestamps: 32:45 – 47:30

• Details on the Case:
  Flo provides an update on Sean "Diddy" Combs’ legal battle, including his upcoming court date (September 25, 2025), where a judge will consider a motion for acquittal or a new trial following convictions on prostitution charges but acquittals on broader racketeering and sex trafficking allegations.

• Prediction:
  Flo doubts the judge will grant Diddy an acquittal or new trial, believing the hearing will be more of a judicial admonishment.

  "I think the judge want to give him a little prelude to the sentencing on September 25th. What y'all think?" – Flo [47:00]

5. Personal & Community Moments

Timestamps: Throughout

• Sports Fandom and Emotional Ties:
  Flo discusses his love-hate relationship with the Cleveland Browns, connecting his resilience to heartbreak as a sports fan with his ability to brush off criticism.

  "Rooting for a horrible ass sports team is a vicious ass cycle, y'all." – Flo [40:48]

• Merchandise Shoutouts:
  Flo promotes Young World, a clothing line by his friend and brother Cash—Jamie Foxx rumored as a future brand ambassador.

• Meet & Greet Info and Listener Birthdays:
  Plans for a community meet-up in Cleveland are announced, along with lively engagement over listener birthdays and sports team banter.

6. Clarifying Recent Claims About Trump as an “Informant”

Timestamps: 1:35:25 – 1:36:20

• Walked-Back Allegation:
  Flo notes that recent buzz claiming Trump was an FBI informant originated from Mike Johnson, who has since retracted and said he “misspoke.” Flo expresses skepticism and flags the confusion for listeners.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You can't handle the truth." – Flo quoting A Few Good Men to highlight how some listeners react poorly to uncomfortable news. [48:18]
• "Attack the people who wrote the article. Your frustration is misplaced. You like that dog? You attacking an innocent bystander." – Flo, in a humorous analogy about blaming the messenger [54:41]
• "I'm the king of taking some negative and turning it positive. I don't know how I do it all the time, but I'm just good at that." – Flo [1:10:52]
• "If you can tune into the Flo Show, that means you are strong enough and secure enough to handle somebody who gon' say exactly how they feel every time. I'm not pandering." – Flo [50:22]
• "Everybody can get smoked. And that's how I like, I like to have smoke for everybody. That way it's fair." – Flo [50:52]

Engaged Listener Highlights

• Live Polls on whether Trump authored the letter.
• Back-and-forth debate over Dershowitz’s credibility, with real-time rebuttals.
• Listener birthday shoutouts, sports team misery bonding, and encouragement to join community events.

Important Timestamps

• 09:20–28:00: Flo’s passionate response to partisan listeners attacking him over reporting
• 32:45–47:30: Diddy’s upcoming court case, legal predictions
• 51:50–1:12:00: Deep dive into the Trump-Epstein letter allegation, WSJ context, informal poll
• 1:12:00–1:22:00: Live debate on the value of sources and the need for facts, not insults
• 1:35:25–1:36:20: Recap of the "Trump-as-informant" claim and retraction

Tone and Takeaways

• Unfiltered, humorous, and direct, Flo’s tone mixes pop culture riffs with hard-hitting commentary.
• Message to listeners: Don’t shoot the messenger; engage with the story, not the reporter.
• Emphasis on fairness: Both sides of the political spectrum are critiqued—no sacred cows.
• Call to action: Participate in genuine, fact-based debate and embrace uncomfortable but vital conversations.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

Flo’s episode is a sharp, witty, and expansive examination of the Trump-Epstein letter story and the reactions it sparks. Instead of taking a side, Flo frames the issue as a moment to reflect on media literacy, partisanship, and the need for courage in addressing difficult news. The episode is also peppered with personal anecdotes, community engagement, and an invitation to think freely—and to handle the truth, even when it hurts.