The Jim Acosta Show: "BREAKING: White House Lies about Epstein Birthday Book Revelations"

Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta
Guests: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)
Episode Overview:
This episode centers on the explosive release of the “Epstein birthday book” by the House Oversight Committee—a document including a suggestive note and what appears to be Donald Trump’s unmistakable signature. Jim Acosta dives deep with Rep. Robert Garcia (Oversight Committee Ranking Member) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (Judiciary Committee member) into the White House’s evasive response, mounting evidence of Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, new avenues of congressional investigation, and related breaking news on Israel and Ukraine.

Main Theme and Purpose

Theme:

• The episode exposes and scrutinizes White House denials and disinformation surrounding the newly released Epstein birthday book, implicating President Trump.
• It focuses on congressional efforts—especially by Democrats—to force full transparency, hold Trump accountable, and advocate for victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking.

Purpose:

• To inform listeners about the real content and significance of the Epstein birthday book findings.
• To confront the White House’s attempts to dismiss or obfuscate the new revelations.
• To highlight ongoing and upcoming congressional investigations as well as the broader political implications of Trump’s ties to Epstein.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. White House Response & Trump’s Denials

• Trump labels the fresh Epstein revelations as “a dead issue” and “a Democratic hoax.” ([00:06])
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt claims Trump did not sign the birthday book, arguing, “The President has one of the most famous signatures in the world… He did not sign those documents.” ([01:44])
• The New York Times and other journalists quickly debunk this by comparing the book signature to Trump’s known signatures—finding a match. ([01:44], [18:18])

Jim Acosta: "Are they saying that somebody forged all of this way back in 2003, 13 years before he ran for president? It just doesn’t add up." ([01:44])

2. Substance of the Epstein Birthday Book

• The birthday book contains troubling notes and cartoons, including a crude drawing and a message from Trump to Epstein to "have another wonderful secret." ([04:26], [19:31])
• Other disturbing imagery includes references to trafficking, checks, photos of underage girls, and crude “gifts.”
• The birthday book was curated by Ghislaine Maxwell and featured notes from various high-profile “friends” of Epstein.

Rep. Garcia: “Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein… were best friends for over a decade… Epstein himself had a photo of Donald Trump on his desk. These guys were buddies.” ([02:41])

Jim Acosta: “It seems to me this was not a secret... It was going on. Nobody put a stop to it.” ([04:26])

3. Congressional Action & Democratic Pressure

• Rep. Garcia emphasizes that Democratic pressure forced the Oversight Committee to release the documents, over initial Republican resistance. ([12:41])
• The Democrats are pushing for the release of unredacted files, bank and financial records pertaining to Epstein’s ring, and are planning further investigation—up to and including depositions of key figures like Alex Acosta. ([11:23], [14:34])
• Rep. Garcia mentions upcoming access to both redacted and unredacted versions of these documents via a New York trip for further scrutiny. ([16:10])
• Garcia argues the new generation of House Democrats is fighting more aggressively than before to force transparency. ([12:41])

Rep. Garcia: "Every positive development in this case has been because of House Oversight Democrats... we are bringing it all on the table." ([12:41])

4. Victims’ Rights and the Search for Justice

• Both Garcia and Acosta highlight the importance of listening to victims and pursuing justice despite White House dismissal.

Rep. Garcia: "I’m just really disgusted by the President calling the victims and the survivors liars and that it’s all one big hoax." ([06:05])

• Republicans, including Levitt, frame the Democratic push as political grandstanding and refuse to commit to Trump meeting with victims. ([09:29], [09:42])

5. Partisan Spin, Media Lies, and Public Credibility

• Both Jim Acosta and his guests take direct aim at Caroline Levitt for spinning and “out-Spicering” previous Trump press secretaries in her obfuscation—calling her statements "repugnant dishonesty." ([28:01])
• The episode underscores the loss of public trust in official White House information.

Jim Acosta: "She thinks we're a bunch of idiots... The American people are on to you, Caroline Levitt. They're on to you, Donald Trump." ([28:01])

6. Status and Process on Epstein Files

• Garcia explains the redaction process is currently being handled by the Epstein estate; upcoming committee trips aim to ensure no excessive redacting beyond privacy protections. ([16:26])
• There are concerns DOJ might remove only Republican names—a move Democrats openly denounce. ([16:39])

Rep. Garcia: "If you cause harm, then you should be held accountable. And who cares [what party they belong to]?" ([16:39])

7. Republican Intransigence and Political Risk

• Several key Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, are portrayed as doing everything possible to minimize political damage to Trump.
• Democrats warn that Trump’s support may erode further if he continues “betraying his base” by not releasing the full files. ([09:42])

Special Segments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

Exposing Trump’s Tactics & White House Lies

• Acosta (re signatures): "If this book was put together back in 2003, are you saying that somebody forged Donald Trump’s signature and put together this note and slipped it into this birthday book to embarrass him 22 years later…? It just doesn’t make any sense." ([18:18], [28:01])
• Acosta (Caroline Levitt): “She’s going for the gold when it comes to being the most full of crap White House press secretary under Donald Trump. Their job is… to lie to the public.” ([28:01])

Victims and Political Hypocrisy

• Garcia: "Jeffrey Epstein had over 1,000 victims that were sexually trafficked, abused, tortured, molested, raped… It's not just of interest to Democrats, it's of interest to every American." ([09:42])
• Acosta (Levitt’s pivot): “At the end she tries to... switch gears over to immigration… just totally outdoing Jeffrey Epstein... just craven, just cynicism baked into what she’s doing there." ([28:01])

The Fight for Truth and Justice

• Garcia (new Dems): "We have a new next generation, aggressive fighting fire group of Democrats that are newer to Congress that aren’t going to let this go and we’re going to push every day." ([02:41])
• Garcia: "Oversight Democrats are a model of how a party needs to fight in this Trump era." ([12:41])

Listeners’ Questions and Reflections

• Acosta (regarding Levitt): "A viewer comment says she thinks we're a bunch of idiots. It's exactly right. She thinks we're a bunch of idiots, but we're not. The American people are on to you, Caroline Levitt." ([28:01])
• Garcia (on redactions): "I don't really care what political party these men were from. Who cares?... If you cause harm, then you should be held accountable." ([16:39])

Rep. Jared Moskowitz Segment

Israel, Qatar, and Gaza ([36:39]–[42:16])

• Discusses fresh Israeli attack in Doha and U.S.-Qatari relations, with implications for hostages and the future of Gaza.
• Critiques Qatar’s political maneuvering in DC and "bewilderment" over Hamas’s safe haven there.
• Criticizes Bibi Netanyahu’s lack of a coherent Gaza strategy, calling for more targeted and careful operations.

Russia, Ukraine, and Trump’s Weakness ([41:43]–[45:42])

• Takes aim at Trump’s failed Anchorage summit with Putin: “The summit was clearly a failure… Vladimir Putin clearly played the president, and the war is in a worse spot…” ([43:08])
• Notes Trump’s pattern: “The president is tougher on Gavin Newsom than he is on Vladimir Putin.” ([44:54])

Judiciary Committee’s Role on Epstein ([45:42]–[51:03])

• Announces upcoming Judiciary hearings with FBI Director and Attorney General; pledges to question them about Epstein, file redactions, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to minimum security.
• Highlights farcical maneuvers: “They send us home a day early… the deputy Attorney General goes to meet with Maxwell… She gets transferred to a prison. I mean… those things are not connected, obviously. Right?” ([48:18])
• Skewers Mike Johnson’s bizarre claim that Trump was an FBI informant: “He comes out clear eyed, looks everyone in the camera and said, Donald Trump was an FBI informant… And then because that one didn’t stick… They’re just throwing things at the wall, trying to see what happens.” ([51:03])

Conclusion and Final Observations

• Acosta closes by reiterating there is only one person who can put these controversies to rest: Donald Trump, by releasing the full Epstein files and meeting with victims, which he continues to avoid. ([52:06])
• He calls out the absurdity of White House claims that the signed note is fake: “Does anybody buy this? … If this can somehow be proven that this was Donald Trump… come on, people, come on.” ([52:06])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:06] – Acosta introduces the episode; context for Trump’s “dead issue” claim.
• [00:59-02:41] – Rep. Garcia breaks down the case and mounting evidence.
• [04:26-06:05] – Discussion of the book contents and public knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
• [09:29-09:42] – Caroline Levitt’s press room denial; Garcia’s response.
• [11:23-12:41] – Garcia on committee process, getting records, and redactions.
• [16:10-17:27] – Redaction process and political implications.
• [18:18-19:01] – Media scrutiny of signature authenticity.
• [28:01] – Acosta rips White House press manipulation.
• [36:39-45:42] – Rep. Moskowitz on Israel, Ukraine, and Trump’s foreign policy.
• [45:42-51:03] – Epstein fallout, House Judiciary plans, and Republican misdirections.

Memorable Quotes

• Garcia ([02:41]): “Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, per Jeffrey Epstein, were best friends for over a decade… All signs point back to Donald Trump…”
• Acosta ([18:18]): “Are you saying somebody back in 2003 forged Donald Trump’s signature… to embarrass him 22 years later when he’s the President of the United States? Folks, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
• Garcia ([12:41]): “Every positive development in this case has been because of House Oversight Democrats… We are bringing it all on the table."
• Moskowitz ([43:08]): “We have to ask my Republican colleagues, who are afraid of the president themselves. They’re more afraid of the president than Vladimir Putin is afraid of the president…”
• Acosta ([52:06]): “If this can somehow be proven that this was Donald Trump and he drew that female figure and put in there wonderful secret… The President of the United States and Jeffrey Epstein were buddies.”

Tone

The tone throughout is urgent, incisive, and often incredulous at the White House’s continued denials. There’s a sense of righteous anger, matched by a prosecutorial approach—a call to persist with oversight, transparency, and justice for victims.

This summary captures the major revelations, political context, and emotional pulse of an episode at the forefront of one of 2025’s most explosive scandals.