The Jim Acosta Show: "Bondi Refuses to Answer Epstein Questions"

With Molly Jong-Fast and Senator Andy Kim
Date: October 7, 2025

Overview

In this politically charged episode, Jim Acosta is joined by journalist and author Molly Jong-Fast and New Jersey Senator Andy Kim to discuss the ongoing government shutdown under President Donald Trump’s administration, Democratic response strategies, and the troubling expansion of federal force in cities across America. The conversation tackles Trump’s refusal to guarantee back pay for furloughed workers, the controversial silence of Pam Bondi regarding the Epstein investigation, and the broader implications for American democracy and civil liberties. Acosta and his guests provide candid, at times irreverent, commentary, urging listeners to resist resignation and to fight for democratic norms.

Key Discussion Points

1. Molly Jong-Fast’s New Writing Ventures and the Mood of the Moment

• Molly confirms that she has left Vanity Fair (00:37) and is now contributing to NYT Opinion and regularly publishing on Substack.
• She jokes they're at the “beginning of the beginning” regarding Trump’s renewed power, treating this political fight as “a marathon, not a sprint” (01:08).
• Acosta and Jong-Fast note the ongoing sense of crisis in American politics and the need for outlets (like writing about “dogs, shoes, and culture”) to maintain sanity amid upheaval.

2. Trump’s Handling of the Shutdown and Democratic Tactics

• Trump is now floating the idea of not compensating federal workers idled by the shutdown (00:05).
• Jong-Fast credits Democrats for focusing on health care messaging, suggesting the public largely blames Republicans for the shutdown (03:07), despite her recent critique in The New York Times.
• Both agree Democrats could be pushing harder—beyond health care—especially on civil liberties and overreaches like militarized ICE raids (05:00).

3. Militarization and Constitutional Concerns

• Acosta expresses alarm over images of “tear gas going off in Chicago neighborhoods,” the Texas National Guard’s arrival in Illinois, and “Apocalypse Now” ICE raids, highlighting an escalation of authoritarian tactics (02:28, 41:30).
• Jong-Fast contrasts Trump’s brashness to autocrats like Putin and Orban, arguing Trump “scares people as part of the troll culture” (05:28).
• Both question the White House press corps’ complicity, noting softball, sycophantic questions and the transformation of the U.S. press into an echo chamber reminiscent of authoritarian regimes (10:22).

4. The Epstein Files and Pam Bondi’s Evasions

• Acosta and Jong-Fast discuss Pam Bondi’s evasive performance on Capitol Hill—particularly her refusal to answer questions regarding Jeffrey Epstein and associated Trump photographs (11:49).
• Acosta plays clips of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Adam Schiff pressing Bondi, with Jong-Fast highlighting Bondi’s visible anger and meltdown (12:35).
• Memorable quote:
  • Jong-Fast: “On Earth One, we actually don’t treat him [Trump] like the Messiah. We just treat him like a person. So... you don’t have to apologize to the Mango God King.” (14:40)

5. Corruption and the “Legalization of Bribery”

• Discussion turns to alleged bribery involving Tom Holman (“the borders are”), news that DOJ declined to pursue because of recent Supreme Court rulings (16:08, 17:29).
• Jong-Fast: “On Earth One where you and I live, bribes are legal and the Supreme Court has completely lost its mind.” (17:31)
• Acosta notes growing unease with a Supreme Court “completely lost its mind,” echoing fears for democracy (17:44).

6. Trump’s Circle, Succession Battles, and Social Media Frenzy

• The guests observe a “succession battle” among Trump loyalists (18:26) and the role of online instigators, especially Stephen Miller, in orchestrating chaos and inciting the base (19:24).
• Jong-Fast jibes about the endless Miller family media presence:
  • “It's like Andy Warhol, but 100x worse. It's so bad.” (19:47)

7. Senator Andy Kim on Shutdown Impacts and Trump's Lawlessness

• Senator Kim argues the shutdown is harming both government workers and ordinary citizens facing skyrocketing health care costs, and that Trump “is weaponizing our budget, our government, our executive branch, to inflict punishment upon those that disagree with him.” (31:01, 32:16)
• Kim shares that the National Guard is being deployed without clear orders, describing the current deployments as “performative” and politically motivated (34:33).
• On the use of federal force:
  • “I heard the story about Blackhawk helicopters... being used for ICE agents to rappel out into an apartment building... now used in our own cities... I find that to be appalling, unacceptable.” (38:49)

8. Debate Over Democratic Tactics and Party Leadership

• The push for generational change in Democratic leadership surfaces (21:59), with Kim and Jong-Fast agreeing there’s a hunger for “fight versus cave” over centrist, measured approaches (23:23).
• Jong-Fast credits Schumer for tactical management but voices skepticism that the party’s base will accept status quo leadership indefinitely (20:52, 23:10).

9. The Stakes: State Elections and Voter Resolve

• The episode spotlights looming governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia as national referenda on Trumpism and grassroots resolve (33:43, 43:05).
• Senator Kim expresses confidence in Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill in NJ against Jack Cittarelli, tying Cittarelli to Trump’s unpopular “mafia boss” tactics regarding critical infrastructure funding (43:05).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Molly Jong-Fast (on Bondi’s evasions):
  • “She really starts to melt down.” (12:52)
  • “If ever there were a person who has spent more time thinking about the Epstein files than Donald Trump, I don't think there is.” (08:34)
• Molly Jong-Fast (on the press):
  • “Now it’s us.” (11:41)
  • “American democracy. LOL.” (11:43)
• Jim Acosta (on federal deployments):
  • “Tear gas in a Chicago neighborhood. Do you want this to come to a community near you?” (46:21)
  • “He [Trump] surrounded himself with all of this crummy gold decor, faux gold decor. He’s created this fantasy land... that he’s somehow America’s dictator. But he’s a dictator wannabe.” (entire outro, especially 47:00-48:15)
• Senator Andy Kim (on shutdown consequences):
  • “Trump is weaponizing our budget, our government, our executive branch, to inflict punishment upon those that disagree with him.” (32:16)
• Molly Jong-Fast:
  • “It’s not left versus center, it’s fight versus cave.” (23:23)

Important Timestamps

• 00:05–01:38: Molly Jong-Fast’s new ventures and reflections on current politics.
• 02:28: ICE raids, National Guard, and Trump administration’s actions.
• 03:07–05:26: Democratic strategy and health care messaging during the shutdown.
• 11:49–15:10: Pam Bondi’s Capitol Hill appearance and the Epstein questions.
• 16:31–17:29: Corruption allegations and Supreme Court decisions.
• 18:26–20:25: Trump world succession and the radicalization of his advisers on social media.
• 26:52–34:33: Senator Andy Kim on the shutdown, health care, and federal workers.
• 38:49–40:32: Discussion of militarization of immigration enforcement and threats to democracy.
• 43:05–44:47: New Jersey governor’s race and Democratic grassroots resolve.

Tone & Takeaways

• Irreverent, unvarnished, and often laced with gallows humor: Acosta and Jong-Fast do not mince words in expressing alarm at the present American political situation.
• Urgency and resistance: The hosts urge listeners to fight back rather than surrender to what Acosta dubs “Trump Depression syndrome.”
• Calls to action: Both the guests and the host push for more aggressive Democratic leadership and elevate both local and national elections as critical to the preservation of democracy.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

If you haven’t listened, this episode offers a clear-eyed but darkly comic discussion of the ongoing unraveling of democratic norms in America. With on-the-ground insights from Senator Andy Kim, sharp media critique from Molly Jong-Fast, and Jim Acosta’s unfiltered perspective, it captures both the stakes and the surreal nature of political life under Trump’s renewed administration—and why hope, resolve, and activism are essential.