The Gist – The Epstein Files Are a Distraction From… the Epstein Files

Host: Mike Pesca
Guest: David Green
Date: February 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Pesca takes on the knotty topic of the latest Epstein files—their revelations, the confusing narratives swirling around them, and why he believes the very act of poring over these files is their own greatest distraction. Before diving into the “spiel,” Pesca hosts David Green (former NPR host and now the head of a nonprofit newsroom) for a candid discussion about the survival and innovation of local journalism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. David Green: A Newspaper Experiment in Lancaster, PA

[08:57–25:10]

Saving a Local Paper—Not Just Nostalgia

• Transition to Nonprofit:
  David Green explains his role in converting Lancaster’s historic daily paper (LNP) into a nonprofit, seeking innovation while preserving vibrant local journalism.
  • Quote: “My hometown paper here... was really at a tough moment. There were a lot of questions about whether bankruptcy might be an option, restructuring. I think there was a chance that a lot of jobs would be lost.” (09:34, David Green)
• Nonprofit Model Explained:
  He didn’t simply “buy a paper”—he helped build a new nonprofit to acquire and operate it, aiming to save jobs and evolve the economic model.
• Preserving Tradition, But Not Getting Stuck:
  Quote: “If you allow the nostalgia to stand in the way of innovating and stand in the way of figuring out how to connect with audiences for the next 50, 100, 200 years, then you’re making a huge mistake and it’s a recipe for disaster.” (16:09, David Green)
• Union Relations:
  Green maintains a positive relationship with the union, emphasizing honoring their contract and appreciating the staff’s adaptability.

Challenges & Opportunities in Local Journalism

• Economic Realities:
  Traditional advertising and subscription models alone aren’t enough; philanthropy is now vital.
  Green: “You need a third leg... philanthropy... it was very enticing to then say, in some communities, let’s join with a public radio station... But it’s a hard culture to break into.” (13:37)
• Digital Transition & Reimagining Audience Connection: Less focus on print, more digital innovation, outreach to younger readers, and fostering a sense of community ownership.
• Staff and Innovation:
  The team (over 50 journalists) is open to podcasts, video, and fresh formats.
• Advice for Aspiring Journalists:
  Try all mediums; learn storytelling across platforms; understand how younger audiences consume news.
  • Quote: “The more I talk to younger people, it’s like they want to choose your own adventure every day.” (21:05, David Green)

Biggest Media Challenges (across Newspaper, Podcasting, Radio)

• Newspapers:
  Basic economics—with a notable exception for giants like the New York Times.
• Podcasting:
  Discovery remains difficult—even fans of hosts can miss major series.
  • Pesca's anecdote: He wasn’t even aware of Green’s “Jim Dolan” podcast series until recently. (22:55–23:12)
• Radio/Audio:
  Funding, sustainability, shifting platforms.

Uncertain Future—But Keep Pushing

• Quote: “To me, the biggest challenge is not knowing what's next and investing too much in the now and not understanding what 10 years is from now... how do I remain relevant and interesting to people and on what platform and in what way?” (23:46, David Green)

2. Spiel: Epstein Files – A Distraction Machine

[26:41–34:46]

True Scandal vs. Wild Distraction

• Pesca frames the most recent release of the Epstein files as both genuinely newsworthy and a “distraction from themselves.”
  • Quote: “Every time a batch of these comes out, individuals are embarrassed. Many of them should be... But I have begun to regard the Epstein files as a distraction from themselves.” (30:20, Mike Pesca)
• Cites specific examples from the files, including:
  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: Arranged an Epstein island visit after denouncing Epstein.
  • Sergey Brin/Bill Gates: Gates was implicated through a convoluted, possibly false, exchange about STIs—a story complicated by the unreliable sourcing and Epstein’s evident attempts at manipulation.

Parsing the Details vs. Misinformation

• On Bill Gates’ supposed “STI” scandal:
  Quote: “I'll read you the headline from People magazine. Bill Gates denies completely false claims in Epstein emails that he contracted STIs from Russian girls.” (28:47, Mike Pesca)
  Pesca points out the unreliable chain of hearsay and headlines, demonstrating how easily misleading “bombshells” can circulate.
• On Steve Tisch, NY Giants owner:
  Entertaining but disturbing emails with Epstein about “great ass fake tit” and indications of sex trafficking—Pesca critiques how such exchanges are minimized in discussion, despite seeming damning.

The Distraction Meta-Analysis

• Rather than seeing a planned “distraction” from other scandals, Pesca suggests the deluge of files are the distraction.
  • Quote: “The Epstein files are proving to be a distraction from themselves. Do not look at them as a cynical ploy by the Trump administration to distract you from Minnesota, which was a distraction on affordability and everything is a distraction from the last thing.” (32:22, Mike Pesca)
• Notes that millions of documents are released, supposedly with the least incendiary chosen for public view by the “Trump controlled FBI/Justice Department.”
• Every document dump dredges up new embarrassment, some justified, some not—the cycle itself becomes destructive and overwhelming.
• Argues that in 2026's media environment, distraction isn't orchestrated; it's “baked into our lives and into the issues themselves.”

Closing Thought

• The Epstein files, in their volume and periodic releases, become their own endless distraction, implicating new figures while rarely bringing true resolution or systemic reform.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On newspaper tradition vs. innovation:
  “If that nostalgia stands in the way of innovating, then we're insane.” (16:09, David Green)
• On the challenge of modern journalism:
  “The biggest challenge is not knowing what’s next and investing too much in the now and not understanding what 10 years is from now.” (23:46, David Green)
• On the overwhelming nature of the Epstein files:
  “I have begun to regard the Epstein files as a distraction from themselves.” (30:20, Mike Pesca)
• On the impossible clarity of bombshell headlines:
  “Quotes sometimes don’t actually clarify... It's really hard to know with all the quotes and misquotes and attempts at chicanery and a guy named Boris and Russian girls in the middle of this?” (29:20, Mike Pesca)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• David Green interview begins: 08:57
• Green discusses nonprofit newsroom model: 09:34–13:37
• Discussion of sustaining local news in digital age: 13:37–18:08
• Union relations: 18:08–19:12
• Innovation and adaptation in legacy media: 19:12–20:37
• Advice for young journalists: 21:05–22:29
• Biggest challenges in news, podcasting, radio: 22:29–23:46
• Spiel starts (Epstein Files): 26:41
• Analysis of Bill Gates, Steve Tisch, Howard Lutnick: 27:24–31:45
• Meta-analysis on distraction and the files themselves: 32:22–34:46

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode of The Gist uses sharp wit and a flood of examples to question the very way headlines become distractions—often distracting us from the actual issues at stake. Through a detailed, often funny interview with David Green, Pesca explores how a daily newspaper in Lancaster is striving to avoid irrelevance, not by clinging to nostalgia but by inventing new ways to serve and connect with its readers. Meanwhile, the “spiel” turns the magnifying glass on the chaos of the Epstein files, arguing that the rush to react may be the true trap, fueled less by conspiracy and more by our own appetite for endless, unresolved scandal.