The Jim Acosta Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Comedy Legend Kathy Griffin on Being Un-Canceled... Plus Frank Figliuzzi on How Trump's FBI Leaves America Vulnerable
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta
Guests: Kathy Griffin (comedian), Frank Figliuzzi (former FBI official)

Overview

On this episode of The Jim Acosta Show, Jim sits down with comedy icon Kathy Griffin to discuss her turbulent “cancellation,” her journey back to the spotlight, and the current state of comedy and political discourse. Later, Jim is joined by former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi, who provides expert insight into the state of the FBI under Trump, recent high-profile prosecutions seen as acts of political vengeance, and the serious security vulnerabilities facing the U.S. today. The episode is marked by biting humor, candid personal stories, and pointed criticism of political decay in America.

Kathy Griffin: On Being Un-Canceled, Trump, and Comedy’s Future

Segment: [00:00–28:30]

Reintroducing Kathy Griffin ([00:00–01:33])

• Jim Acosta welcomes Kathy, celebrating her “take-no-prisoners” style and her return to the stage with a new YouTube special, My Life on the PTSD List.
• Kathy recalls her infamous New Year’s Eve stint at CNN and laments the decline in follow-up journalism and the vanishing of local press.
  • “If there's not even a press corps allowed in the Pentagon anymore, what am I watching [CNN] for?” (Kathy Griffin, [00:32])

The Decline of Local Media ([02:40–04:37])

• Kathy recounts growing up in a politically divided family and how accessible, healthy local press shaped her understanding of the world.
  • “As somebody who’s 64, I really miss it. I counted on local press.” ([03:40])
• Both express sadness at the shrinking of local news and the impact on civil discourse and touring artists.

Taking on Elon Musk and Online Culture ([04:37–06:12])

• Discussion of Kathy’s Twitter antics, including impersonating Elon Musk and being banned:
  • “He said he took my account away because I was impersonating a comedian. That was his big joke. But he stole that joke from…I had seen that tweet a thousand times.” ([05:45])
• Hits out at Musk and his online fanbase as “fash[ion]” worshippers.

Decades-Long Connections with Trump ([06:16–08:34])

• Kathy describes her odd, decades-spanning relationship with Donald Trump, including a roast at Bedminster and sitting next to him at a Larry King roast.
  • “He's so stupid. He's like aggressively stupid. He's not just uninformed or distracted by other world matters.” ([07:58])
• Reminisces about mutual connections through Joan Rivers and the insular New York/LA scene.

The Fallout and Aftermath of “The Photo” ([08:49–13:29])

• Goes in depth about government investigation and public backlash following her infamous Trump-head photo:
  • “They were really trying to charge me with the felony of conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States.” ([09:08])
• Describes interrogation by the DOJ, placement on multiple terror watchlists, and the impact on her life and career.
• Despite having top lawyers, she endured airport detentions and lost her right to travel freely.
  • “I was on the no Fly list and the Interpol list…on the five Eyes list.” ([09:24])
• Notes the double standard, speculating Trump would not have been “canceled” over a similar image.

Surviving and Surmounting Cancellation ([13:29–16:12])

• Recalls total industry isolation, with both the political right and left turning against her:
  • “Everyone turned on me left, right, and center. And then Jeff Zucker, that piece of shit…put it on the CNN ticker.” ([13:37])
• Shares her resolve to fight back as a model for younger comics and upholds the primacy of humor and adaptability in comedy.
• Celebrates a spirit of inclusiveness and learning from “woke” culture:
  • “I don't have a problem with the woke mind virus...I think it’s good when younger people educate me.” ([14:21])

Changing Language, Comedy, and Resistance ([16:12–21:06])

• Discusses right-wing attempts to police thought and cancel comics (Jimmy Kimmel as example), and how grassroots economic resistance worked.
  • “Something just wasn’t right about the president deciding who does late night jokes.” ([16:45])
• Asserts comedy’s role is "punching up," and that mockery of the powerful is essential.
• Kathy affirms her enduring commitment to the LGBTQ community (“queen of the gays” [19:30]):
  • “What’s better than a gay audience? You can’t shock a gay audience.” ([19:37])
  • Brags about surviving “18 gay cruises” as a badge of honor ([20:05]).

Life, Love, and Perseverance ([21:16–23:15])

• Jokes about her financial independence, new dating adventures, and colorful app experiences.
• Maintains that hope and resilience are vital, even when the country seems on the brink:
  • "We lazy Americans have to understand that we have to be like other countries that have been on the brink of fascism." ([23:15])

On Activism, American Decay, and Gray Areas ([23:15–28:30])

• Advocates for bolder public protest (“be in the streets every day”).
• Critiques gerrymandering, the Electoral College, and expresses skepticism about the fairness of Trump’s electoral victories:
  • “I…do not think that Donald won in a free and fair election…I just can't be convinced he won. I know that sounds crazy.” ([25:23])
• Emphasizes the need for hope, pointing to her own comeback as proof:
  • "If I can go back, anybody can come back." ([27:53])
• Wraps segment by plugging her new tour: “Every ticket you purchase is a middle finger to censorship." ([28:16])

Frank Figliuzzi: The State of the FBI and Trump-Era Retaliation

Segment: [29:24–46:49]

The John Bolton Case and Trump’s DOJ ([30:09–35:03])

• Frank Figliuzzi details the indictment of John Bolton for classified info mishandling:
  • “This is, you know, people have to understand something. 18 counts...He clearly intended to write a book, literally from day one.” ([32:03])
• Frank stresses the prosecution is strong but acknowledges the taint of possible political motivation:
  • “Two things can be true at once. Strong case...And then, comma, let’s, let’s be real. The timing of this is horrible.” ([33:34])

Selective and Vindictive Prosecution ([35:03–38:04])

• Discussion shifts to the prosecution of James Comey, which Frank describes as “transparently vengeful” and “an embarrassment for this country.”
  • “As my mother used to say frequently, this is why we can't have nice things.” ([36:21])
• Notes the unusual use of external prosecutors and investigators, further suggesting questionable motives.

National Security Failures and SignalGate ([38:04–39:47])

• Compares the vigor of the Bolton/Comey prosecutions with the lack of action on SignalGate, emphasizing lost priorities under Trump’s FBI.
• Expresses dismay that the alleged hacking of cabinet members is ignored:
  • “Who do you think is hacking and monitoring the phones of all of these cabinet level people on that signal chat? Everyone and their brother.” ([39:35])

Merrick Garland, Mueller, and Prosecutorial Timidity ([39:47–42:46])

• Criticizes Merrick Garland (and by extension Bob Mueller) for moving too slowly and eschewing bold action, especially in the January 6 probe.
  • “Trump was, was, you know, an MMA fighter and they were boxing…there was a genteel rule following thing going on there that did not sense the gravity of the situation.” ([40:49])
• Faults DOJ for waiting on Congress before acting against Trump and his enablers.

The Hollowing Out of the FBI ([42:46–46:24])

• Frank warns of dire vulnerabilities due to staff cuts, re-prioritization, and draining of expertise:
  • “I am convinced...we are as vulnerable as we've been perhaps since 9/11.” ([43:32])
  • “They’re coming off the JTTFs, the Joint Terrorism Task Forces…even crimes against children, agents...they’re being pulled off of that.” ([43:47])
• Notes mass retirements and lowered recruitment standards for new agents:
  • “No college degree...eight weeks of training...how are those people going to work complex international transnational crimes?” ([45:19])

Conclusion of Figliuzzi Segment ([46:44–46:49])

• Jim thanks Frank and notes the chilling warnings, especially regarding U.S. national security under Trump-era and post-Trump leadership.

Final Thoughts & Noteworthy Quotes

Segment: [46:49–57:56]

Host Analysis and Critique ([46:49–49:25])

• Jim rails against the current White House press secretary Caroline Levitt for inflammatory, McCarthyite rhetoric.
  • “She has so cheapened that position that it doesn't have the stature that it once had because she holds that job.” ([49:25])

Redemption and Hope ([49:46–57:56])

• Jim circles back to the “comeback” theme, celebrating Kathy Griffin’s resilience as an example for the country:
  • “You can be down for the count and you can still get back up and start swinging again. And that's what Kathy's doing.” ([49:46])
• Closes with a story about Kathy’s meeting with Kamala Harris, encapsulating the episode’s message of speaking truth to power:
  • “She turned to me and she goes, ‘Take no shit.’ So that's...the edict she has given to me. So I'm taking no shit this week.” (Kathy Griffin, [57:19])
• Jim thanks his listeners for supporting independent journalism and promises continued, unfiltered coverage.

Notable Moments and Quotes

• “He's so stupid. He's like aggressively stupid.” — Kathy Griffin on Donald Trump ([07:58])
• “If the roles had been reversed and he had held your head up in a picture…he still would have been elected president twice.” — Jim Acosta ([10:49])
• “They were really trying to charge me with the felony of conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States.” — Kathy Griffin ([09:08])
• “I am convinced...we are as vulnerable as we've been perhaps since 9/11.” — Frank Figliuzzi ([43:32])
• “Every ticket you purchase is a middle finger to censorship.” — Kathy Griffin ([28:16])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kathy Griffin on censorship and media: [00:00–04:37]
• Trump stories & cancel culture: [06:16–13:29]
• LGBTQ community/Comedy post-cancellation: [19:23–21:16]
• Political hope & activism: [23:15–28:30]
• John Bolton prosecution & FBI insight: [29:24–35:03]
• DOJ, selective prosecution, and FBI decline: [35:03–46:24]
• Kathy Griffin’s mandate from Kamala Harris: [57:01–57:56]

Tone and Atmosphere

• Candid, irreverent, and raw: Both Acosta and Griffin are unfiltered, blending sharp humor with frank criticism.
• Concerned and urgent: Figliuzzi’s warnings about national security underscore the seriousness of the moment.
• Hopeful yet vigilant: Despite dark warnings, both guests and host advocate persistence, hope, and speaking out.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, media, comedy, and the struggle to maintain truth and democracy amid polarization and institutional decay.