The Jim Acosta Show: "Live with Jim Acosta"

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Jim Acosta

Overview

In this New Year’s solo episode, Jim Acosta sets the stage for a pivotal 2026 in American politics, highlighting major issues headed into the midterm elections, especially healthcare, democracy, and the legacy of January 6th. Acosta reflects on time spent in Hawaii recharging, delivers sharp critiques of Donald Trump and the Republican Party, and previews an upcoming January 6th remembrance event. The episode closes with a call to resist lies and fear, and to hold onto truth and hope in the year ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Update and Podcast Plans

• Acosta opens by greeting listeners, mentioning his return from a rejuvenating vacation in Hawaii.
  • Jokes about traveling “as far away from Donald Trump as I could while staying in the United States” (01:09).
  • References a sunburn and banter about his appearance from audience comments.
• No guests today; instead, an introspective solo show touching on the major stories for 2026.
• Announces a major event: “a day of remembrance” for January 6th at the National Press Club (02:03, 35:23).

2. 2026 Midterms: The Healthcare Cliff

• Acosta zeroes in on the expiration of enhanced Obamacare subsidies at the end of 2025 and the potential fallout:
  • “22 million Americans, or 92% of enrollees in the Obamacare exchanges, are expected to face out-of-pocket increases…” (04:36).
  • Warns that if people exit the health insurance market due to rising costs, everyone’s premiums—including those with employer-based insurance—will be affected.
  • Labels it “a real cliff... an Obamacare cliff” and emphasizes the systemic, “cockamamie crazy” dysfunction of the U.S. healthcare system (10:13).
• Stresses this could be the central story that hurts Trump and the GOP in the midterms, possibly paving the way for Democrats to campaign on single-payer healthcare in 2028.
  • “At some point in this country, [we need] national single payer healthcare, an American version of that. So everybody has coverage” (11:07).

3. Epstein Cover-Up and Trump Connections

• Returns to the “Epstein-gate cover up,” with continued lack of public access to all related files.
  • References a recent Wall Street Journal piece about Trump banning Epstein from Mar-a-Lago’s spa (16:40).
  • Points out conflicting narratives around the Trump-Epstein relationship and lack of media scrutiny.
  • “At what point did it dawn on Donald Trump that Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile?” (18:40).

4. Trump’s Manipulation of the News Cycle & Iran Comments

• Analyzes Trump’s penchant for redirecting media attention, referencing:
  • Trump’s Truth Social post: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” in response to protests in Iran (22:00).
  • Acosta: “As soon as I saw this story, I knew exactly what Trump was up to” (22:19).
• Argues Trump uses these tactics to distract from negative headlines, like those concerning his health.

5. Trump’s Health Controversies

• Discusses recent stories about Trump’s health, including a strange Wall Street Journal interview where Trump talks about taking aspirin:
  • Trump (as quoted): “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood. And I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice thin blood pouring through my heart” (25:13).
  • Acosta: “No, Donald Trump, that does not make sense... Does he really think he can regulate the thickness of his blood?” (25:28).
• Notes ongoing inconsistencies about Trump’s medical reports, bruising, and apparent decline in stamina.
  • “Donald Trump’s health is in serious decline. That is apparent to everybody. He is getting drowsier and sleepier on the job...” (27:45).
  • Points out Trump’s prior attempts to make age a campaign issue.

6. Upcoming January 6th Remembrance Event

• Outlines the event to commemorate the fifth anniversary of January 6th, featuring notable guests including Adam Kinzinger and officers involved in defending the Capitol (32:47).
  • “The attack that happened at the Capitol does not happen without Donald Trump... The other co-conspirators were doing this for his benefit.” —Jack Smith, via Acosta (34:19).
• Shares concerns about reoffending among previously pardoned January 6th defendants:
  • “[Many] are reoffending in violent ways. And it just underlines the threat not only to public safety, but to our democracy itself...” (36:03).
• Emphasizes the importance of remembering and countering false narratives, particularly those pushed by Trump regarding January 6th and the 2020 election (37:45).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Healthcare:

  • “We absolutely have an affordability crisis in the United States. And healthcare might be at the top of that list.” (05:10)
  • “If people leave the health insurance market... guess who pays for the rest of that? Yes, you and me.” (09:35)

• On Trump’s Political Tactics:

  • “Donald Trump doesn’t like to be in The B block. He likes to be in the A block.” (21:23)
  • “He wants that Nobel Peace Prize so badly... and yet, week to week, we see stories where he’s threatening to bomb the shit out of some other country.” (23:34)

• On Trump & Health:

  • “‘I want nice thin blood pouring through my heart.’ Does that make sense? No, Donald Trump, that does not make sense.” (25:20)
  • “He uses the CVS makeup. Maybe it’s Maybelline. I don’t know. He doesn’t practice the blending as he should on the hands.” (27:21)

• On January 6th:

  • “The attack that happened at the Capitol does not happen without Donald Trump.” —Jack Smith via Acosta (34:19)
  • “We want to look back and beat back the lies that have been told. Donald Trump continues to lie about January 6th.” (38:02)

• On the Stakes for 2026:

  • “I don’t want to say it’s all the marbles, but I think just about everything is on the line depending on what happens heading into these midterms.” (38:25)
  • “We can’t give in. We can’t give into these lies that are gonna be told this year. We have to hold onto the truth. But more than anything else... we have to hold on to hope.” (40:34)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–02:03 — Greeting, New Year’s wishes, Hawaii trip, return to podcasting
• 02:04–13:11 — Focus on 2026, midterms, “Obamacare cliff,” healthcare’s electoral impact
• 13:12–21:53 — Epstein cover-up, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago connection, critique of media handling
• 22:00–25:32 — Trump’s “locked and loaded” Iran comments, media manipulation, shifting narratives
• 25:33–31:11 — Trump’s health, aspirin comments, concerns over White House performance
• 31:12–37:33 — January 6th commemoration event, remembering and defending democracy, recent legal perils of pardoned defendants
• 37:34–41:25 — Call to resist lies and fear, appeal to hope and truth, preview of future shows and events

Conclusion & Call to Action

Jim Acosta ends this episode with a powerful message for 2026—stand firm against misinformation and despair, fight for truth, and stay hopeful and engaged as high-stakes events unfold this year. He encourages listeners to attend or tune into the January 6th event, promises new shows, and thanks his audience for their ongoing support and engagement.

“You have to hold on to hope and a little bit of faith in your fellow American that we are going to get through this and we’re going to do this by fighting for the truth... The American way of life is not going to be ripped away from us. Not on our watch. Not on our watch.” (41:00)

End of Summary