The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Trump's Epstein Files Demand FLIPS Democrat Narrative | Guest: Scott Jennings
Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Glenn Beck
Guest: Scott Jennings, CNN Senior Political Contributor
Podcast Network: Blaze Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the renewed political firestorm surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files, Donald Trump’s public call for their release, and the shifting political narrative as Democrats and media increasingly reposition themselves on the topic. Glenn explores the broader implications for American politics, trust in institutions, and the growing rift between progressives, socialists, and establishment Democrats. A deep-dive interview with Scott Jennings, author of A Revolution of Common Sense and CNN commentator, provides insight into the evolving Trump coalition, party divides, and the strategies reshaping the political landscape.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Epstein Files as a Political Football: How Trump’s demand for transparency is upending the expected narrative and exposing partisan motives on both sides.
• Erosion of Institutional Trust: Repeated deception eroding public confidence in government and media, fueling conspiracy and chaos.
• Democratic Party Schism: Accelerated by rising socialist energy overtaking establishment Democrats, creating lasting fissures within the left.
• Trump's Political Model: Framed as “common sense,” transcending traditional ideology to create new political alliances.
• Societal Change via Revolution vs. Progress: Analysis of progressive incrementalism versus the current push for abrupt, revolutionary change.
• Media Dynamics: The importance of debate and ideological diversity in media—featuring a CNN conservative’s perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Epstein Files: Political Dynamics & Media Hypocrisy

Timestamp: 12:00–23:35

• Beck slams both government and media for years of obfuscation and selective leaks about Epstein, asserting that neither side truly wants full transparency.
  • “Could we just, for the love of Pete, release everything that we have so we can move on from the Jeffrey Epstein thing? ... Here’s the answer. No.” (12:35, Glenn Beck)
• Notably, Beck calls out Democrats for attempting to tie Epstein to Trump only when politically advantageous, but never pressing for release when it could’ve implicated their own figures.
  • “If they had stuff about the Epstein files, they would have gone with the stuff about the Epstein files. They don’t have anything.” (15:43, Beck)
• Breakdown of the media’s role (e.g., the infamous ABC anchor caught on hot mic) and the habit of burying stories when inconvenient.

Memorable Quotes

• “Once you start to lie ... people are like, Why would you lie about that? ... If you’re the US government, you already have no credibility.” (13:27, Beck)

2. Recent Leaks and the ‘Trump-as-Whistleblower’ Twist

Timestamp: 16:38–23:35

• Discussion of a leaked memo suggesting Trump is “the only dog that hasn’t barked,” which many interpreted as suspicion of Trump’s involvement.

• Beck clarifies, citing journalist Barry Levine, that Epstein likely saw Trump as the whistleblower who tipped off police in 2004—flipping the chosen narrative.

  • “[Epstein] believed that Donald Trump talked to Michael Ryder, who was the Palm Beach police chief in 2004 … So, in other words, he was the whistleblower.” (20:58, Beck)

• The “dog that hasn’t barked” line interpreted by Trump critics as sinister, but emerged instead as evidence of Trump potentially alerting authorities.

• Discussion of selective redaction protecting Virginia Giuffre's name, who has repeatedly exonerated Trump from Epstein’s activities.

Memorable Quotes

• “This does not hurt Donald Trump. It helps Donald Trump.” (23:08, Beck)

3. Bipartisanship, Principle, and Political Friendship

Timestamp: 27:26–35:17

• Beck praises unlikely alliances (e.g., Nicki Minaj with Trump’s UN ambassador), drawing a contrast with divisionary rhetoric.
• Tells anecdotes about efforts to find common ground with ideological opposites for higher-priority humanitarian goals.
• Emphasizes the import of shared first principles over policy minutiae (“all men are created equal”, Bill of Rights, etc.)
• Outlines when compromise is possible: only when foundational values are shared.
  • “If you agree with those things, I can argue about tax policy all day long and be fine.” (34:37, Beck)

Memorable Quotes

• “That’s why [politics] was invented … so that we could argue about issues and not murder the other tribe.” (35:17, Stu)

4. Revolution vs. Incremental Change: The Death of Progressivism

Timestamp: 78:01–99:00

• Glenn sets forth his thesis: America has moved from the “progressive era” (gradual change) into a “socialist era” driven by expectation of immediate, radical change.
• Draws lineage from early-20th-century progressive politics—focused on slow, orderly transformation—to current socialist movements impatient for revolution.
• Illustrates this shift using both right- and left-wing activists frustrated with establishment “Lucy-and-the-football” politics.

Memorable Quotes

• “Progressives said, ‘No, we’ll get to your socialist utopia, but we’ll do it one step at a time.’ … The socialists have said, ‘Enough is enough. … You didn’t notice how strong we were getting.’” (96:30, Beck)

5. Scott Jennings Interview: Revolution of Common Sense

Timestamp: 49:09–67:23

Scott on Surviving CNN as a Conservative

• “I think TV is kind of boring when it’s just six people sitting around congratulating themselves on increasing levels of smugness. A little debate … and reframing some of these debates is exactly what [news] needs.” (49:41, Jennings)

How Trump Redefined the Political Game

• Scott credits his father, a working-class Democrat, as an early Trump supporter; Trump appeals to those “trying to hire somebody to smash these guys who [have] forgotten about us.”

  • “He was speaking to my dad … and he was speaking to millions.” (51:11, Jennings)

• Trump’s fusion of common sense over ideology enabled him to realign the GOP and create a broad base.

Trump’s Strengths and the Media Caricature

• Jennings sees Trump’s decisiveness and willingness to break with elite consensus as core strengths; disputes the media portrayal:
  • “The caricature … would lead you to believe that he is not a good listener … I came away with a totally opposite review.” (57:24, Jennings)
  • “He is genuinely funny. He is warm, he is hospitable.” (58:14, Jennings)

Warning About Democratic Party Radicalization

• Sees a real takeover of the left by radical socialists, citing AOC and Bernie Sanders as figureheads.
• “They fundamentally hate the system that we have lived with for 250 years in this country.” (59:41, Jennings)

On the Epstein Files and Political Games

• “I think the Democrats are going to be disappointed … it may come back to bite them … we’ll find out he did nothing, but there’s a bunch of prominent leftists that maybe did.” (63:59, Jennings)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Their success is not just to make incremental changes and to win this election or that election. Their goal is to tear it all down.” (83:30, Beck)
• “We are friends with, and saying things that you never, ever thought would come out of your mouth, but we’re in such strange times.” (28:36, Beck)
• “You have revolutionaries and then you have politicians.” (97:45, Beck)
• “I always thought … that we had Republicans who were like, ‘Hey, of course we want zero taxes, of course we want a flat tax at 10%, we can’t get there right now …’ At some point I realized that’s actually not the case.” (107:08, Stu)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Start | Highlight | |---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Epstein Files and Media Manipulation | 12:00 | Government/media dishonesty, partisan motives, ABC anchor story | | Trump as Possible Epstein Whistleblower | 20:58 | Barry Levine revelation, memo misinterpretation | | Leaks and Timing, Trump’s Position on Epstein | 16:38 | Democrat leaks, lack of evidence against Trump, impact on political narrative | | Bipartisanship, Principle, and Political Friendship | 27:26 | Minaj at UN, dealing with old school vs. new Democrats, finding points of unity | | Compromise and the New Extremes | 40:54 | When compromise is possible/appropriate, limitations with activists | | Scott Jennings Interview Begins (“Revolution of Common Sense”) | 49:09 | Life at CNN, Trump’s appeal, GOP transformation | | Jennings on Democratic Radicalization | 59:41 | Socialist energy overtakes Democrats | | Epstein Files: Jennings’ Analysis | 63:33 | Democrat hopes for dirt on Trump will backfire | | Beck’s explanation: End of Progressive Era | 78:01 | Shift from progressivism to overt socialism | | “Lucy and the Football” politics | 96:06 | Why the base lost faith in both major parties | | AI Christmas toys and child safety concerns | 117:45 | Problems with AI-powered toys, dangers/predatory patterns |

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• The episode argues that both political and media institutions have weaponized the Epstein story more as a partisan cudgel than a search for truth—now being upended by Trump’s call for full transparency.
• Political polarization is less about classic debates and more about foundational worldviews, with old Democratic-Progressive incrementalism being eclipsed by revolutionary socialist impatience.
• Scott Jennings’ interview provides an insider’s account of Trump’s coalition-building, the transformation and radicalization of the Democratic party, and a defense of bringing debate back to mainstream media platforms.
• Ultimately, the episode contends that America is at a crossroads: between order (but impersonal, elite-run) globalist systems and anti-establishment, revolutionary movements—both left and right.

For listeners interested in:

• Political strategy and party realignment
• Media criticism and institutional trust
• The implications of leaked or “weaponized” information
• The evolution from progressive to radical politics on the left
• The future of bipartisan cooperation and authentic compromise

This summary delivers a comprehensive breakdown of content, arguments, and notable quotes, ideal for an informed catch-up on the November 17, 2025, Glenn Beck Program episode.