The Jim Acosta Show

Episode: Big Win in Push to Release the Epstein Files with Jess Michaels and Michael Fanone on Political Rhetoric in America
Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta

Overview

This episode covers two major themes:

1. A Significant Legislative Breakthrough for Epstein File Transparency:
   Jim Acosta discusses the crucial Arizona congressional win that paves the way for the release of the Epstein files, joined by survivor-advocate Jess Michaels for a powerful, personal conversation on the roadblocks and necessity of transparency and justice.

2. The Dangerous State of American Political Rhetoric:
   Later, Acosta and former police officer Mike Fanone react to escalating political violence and the hypocrisy of political figures, providing sharp commentary on law enforcement, political violence, the Trump administration, and the battle for honest media and discourse.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Big Win in the Push to Release the Epstein Files

Guest: Jess Michaels, Epstein survivor and advocate
Timestamps: [00:06]-[29:48]

Legislative Breakthrough

• Acosta announces Adelita Grijalva's win in Arizona, giving enough votes in the House to force a vote on the Epstein files (discharge petition).
• Acosta: “That win means lawmakers pushing for the release of the Epstein files now have enough votes in the House to move forward.” [00:19]

Jess Michaels on Hope and Media Silence

• Jess celebrates Grijalva's commitment to sign the petition as her first act in Congress.
• Expresses frustration that conservative media continues not to cover or seek input from survivors.
• Michaels: “I have not had a request from a single conservative news outlet. So they’re not hearing our story... that’s really disturbing.” [02:38]
• Notes that a third of Republican women statistically have been sexually assaulted—urges the importance of bipartisan support.

The Role of Public Pressure & Media

• Acosta emphasizes the need for media coverage: “It’s that kind of media pressure... that will force Congress to do the right thing here.” [03:57]
• Michaels finds some hope in social and national media coverage, but warns change still depends on public and political will, especially among Republican women.

The Trump Connection & Symbolism

• Acosta shares moment with Trump supporter at the Capitol’s new Epstein-Trump friendship statue.
• Supporter: “Why do you think he won’t release the files?”
• Response: “Because he’s on it.” [06:31]
• Michaels: “Just release the files and move on... Let the chips fall where they may, just release them.” [06:52]
• Jess stresses this is about systemic accountability, not partisan attacks.

Surreal and Powerful Artifacts

• On seeing the “friendship statue” and the Epstein birthday book:
  • Jess describes seeing a cartoon from the book that replicated her own experience, relating the normalization and celebration of Epstein’s abuse in his social circle.
  • Michaels: “It was very jarring... it took me right back to that day and the blame I felt on myself... and I was wrong. Just so we’re clear. I was wrong. But it definitely hurt.” [09:22]

Why Official Release is Needed

• Jess pushes back on calls to “just leak” the files:
  • “It is not safe for us to do that. We need Department of Justice to do their job.” [13:04]
  • Urges listeners to sustain public pressure and reminds that transparency is for broader systemic change: “It’s bigger than [Trump], it’s our children... we need grace and compassion, but we have to do this together.” [15:30]

Trauma, Advocacy & Personal Impact

• Jess shares statistics on the lifelong impact of childhood sexual abuse—and how trauma impairs survivors’ ability to speak and make decisions.
• Michaels: “A third of your female audience has been a survivor… a fifth of your male audience... When you are abused as a child, it negatively impacts your nervous system and your ability to make choices in the future.” [14:10–15:29]

Changing the Conversation and Systems

• On lobbying Congress: “There are ten Republican women in the Senate, and statistically, one out of three has been assaulted. We need to make this a nonpartisan issue.” [24:49]
• Jess urges treating sexual abuse as an “injury, not just a crime,” highlighting the lasting neurological effects.

Notable Quotes

• Jess Michaels:
  • “We are doing this to represent everyone who was abused… we need you to keep up the pressure.” [16:44]
  • “When we’re talking about this, we’re not just talking about Trump. It’s bigger than that.” [15:30]
• Jim Acosta:
  • “It’s media outlets doing their job that will force Congress to do the right thing here.” [03:57]

2. Political Rhetoric and Violence in America

Guest: Michael Fanone, former police officer and January 6 survivor
Timestamps: [29:48]-[54:51]

Fallout from an ICE Facility Shooting

• Acosta shares news of a deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
• Both Acosta and Fanone warn about jumping to conclusions and politicizing the event before facts are known.
• Fanone: “Any type of violence directed at law enforcement or anyone for that matter is wrong... But Cash Patel... is helping right-wing media outlets with a narrative... before we know anything about the shooter.” [36:05]

ICE Criticism and Law Enforcement Accountability

• Fanone details systemic issues within ICE:
  • “Their lack of accountability... and many incidents and behaviors displayed by specific agents that I find repulsive, cruel, and inappropriate.” [37:24]
• Acosta critiques the hypocrisy of demonizing critics of ICE while ignoring abuses.

The Hypocrisy of Political Rhetoric

• Acosta: “Of course, you were the victim, Mike, of political violence that was inspired and incited by Donald Trump, correct?” [41:04]
• Fanone recounts ICE brutality against protesters (including the body-slamming of a young candidate) and ICE agents separating children from parents.

Turning Up the Temperature

• Acosta slams those calling for lower rhetoric while Trump continues to incite hate:
  • “Can we just turn down the temperature? And look who’s the President... He just said... I hate my opponent. And he is the one who incited what took place on January 6.” [45:35]
• Fanone: “No American politician has done more to advocate for political violence [than Trump]... The message that he sent was, if you commit acts of violence on my behalf, I will absolve you of all criminal culpability.” [45:39-47:18]

Weaponizing Victimhood

• Fanone and Acosta critique right-wing politicians for projecting blame for violence onto the left, despite clear evidence of stoking violence on their own side.
• Fanone: “No one else seems capable of simply denouncing political violence full stop... Instead, we get 'demonic, disgusting... and we hate them.'” [48:31]
• They warn this cycle is designed to create justification for future right-wing violence and authoritarian measures.

Hope, Free Speech, and the Role of Media

• Acosta and Fanone celebrate Jimmy Kimmel’s return and his defense of “living in a country that allows us to have shows like this.”
• Fanone: “We need more people like that who are able to rise above, so to speak... At some point, this country is going to need its Kumbaya moment… It just unfortunately, you know, I’m not going to be the one spearheading that effort.” [54:36]

Notable Quotes

• Mike Fanone:
  • “No one has done more... to advocate for political violence than Donald Trump.” [45:39]
  • “I fear... they're creating this permission structure for the right to seek revenge.” [51:01]
• Jim Acosta:
  • “You can't take away the people's right to say that they're pissed off about it.” [38:44]
  • “Is anybody going to have a real conversation about how Donald Trump is old as shit too?” [55:20]

Noteworthy Moments

• Jarring Emotional Honesty: Jess Michaels describes the lasting, life-shaping trauma of abuse, offering statistics and heartfelt truth for other survivors. [15:30–16:44]
• Statue & Symbolism: Discussion of the Epstein-Trump friendship statue and the political impact of public art. [05:27–06:52]
• Political Hypocrisy: Soundbites of politicians blaming “the left” for political violence while defending or inciting it themselves. [40:07–41:19]
• Refusal to Back Down: Both guests advocate for persistent truth-telling and the necessity of public pressure, solidarity, and grace—even in the face of overwhelm and fatigue.
• Sharp, Dark Humor: Acosta suggests replacing all federal building photos of Trump with him and Epstein post-2029 as a satiric response to current White House antics. [56:30-end]

Section Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Start – End | |---|---|---| | Epstein Files Victory & Jess Michaels Interview | Legislative threshold reached, survivor advocacy, media critique | 00:06–29:48 | | Dallas ICE Shooting & Political Rhetoric | Shooting news; media/official response; Fanone’s commentary | 29:48–41:19 | | ICE Critique, Examples of Abuse | Fanone and Acosta detail specific abuses and critique ICE | 41:19–45:39 | | Political Violence & Media Complicity | Trump’s role, right-wing projection, the permission for violence | 45:39–54:51 | | Satire & Closing Rants | Acosta’s satirical suggestions, Kimmel’s speech, show close | 54:51–end |

Tone & Language

• Unflinching, personal, sarcastic at times, but magnetic in its focus on truth and justice.
• Jess Michaels is heartfelt, vulnerable, and insistent; Acosta is sharp, questioning, and indignantly humorous; Fanone brings a world-weary, clear-eyed reckoning with law enforcement and political reality.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode powerfully personalizes national headlines. Jess Michaels’s testimony lays bare the human cost of congressional dithering, while Fanone and Acosta’s banter cuts through the fog of “both sides” rhetoric, calling out hypocrisy and demanding action. The episode offers hard truths, moments of hope, and a rallying call for light in dark times: Don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to fear. Hold on to the truth. And hope.

Selected Quotes

• “We need everybody else to... form around us a protective shield. In order for this to happen.” — Jess Michaels [13:38]
• “No American politician has done more to advocate for political violence.” — Mike Fanone [47:18]
• “If you love America, then you love the America that we are today. The diverse, multicultural, opinionated, vocal, free speech loving. That’s the America that we are.” — Jim Acosta [55:20]

For ongoing coverage and to support independent media, visit jimacosta.substack.com