The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode 3578: Bondi Epstein Crash Out; Next Step in West Bank Annexation w/ Jasper Nathaniel
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into two major stories: the public and political fallout from the latest Jeffrey Epstein revelations, including a contentious congressional hearing featuring Pam Bondi, and the escalating de facto annexation of the West Bank by Israel, as explained by Jasper Nathaniel (Infinite Jazz, Substack). The first hour is dominated by scrutiny of Justice Department conduct and political maneuvering around the Epstein files, while the second hour offers a deep dive into Israel’s evolving policies regarding the West Bank—tying in Trump administration politics, global media coverage, and on-the-ground policy changes.

Key Discussion Points

1. Headlines and Political Context ([00:13]–[04:53])

• Sam Seder and crew kick off recapping current events, including:
  • A ten-day FAA no-fly order over El Paso blamed on cartel drones.
  • Trump threatening Canada over a bridge dispute linked to lobbyist Howard Lutnick.
  • The government’s refusal to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine.
  • A school shooting in Canada—largest in its history.
  • Ongoing economic and legislative battles in Congress (e.g., tariffs, DHS funding).
• Tone: Both irreverent and urgent, with issue after issue heaped up to show the general chaos and corruption in government.

2. Epstein Files and DOJ Cover-Up ([05:48]–[24:30])

The Epstein Web and Political Corruption

• Sam Seder and Matt Leckie analyze new Epstein files, emphasizing the systemic protection of a known predator by American elites across political lines.
• Seder references the work of C. Wright Mills and paints the current state as a “morally decrepit” era with “the most corrupt administration in the history of the country.”
• Notable quote, Matt Leckie: “C. Wright Mills called it the power elite in the mid-century.” ([08:34])

Congressional Clashes with Pam Bondi

• Pam Bondi, recently linked to the Epstein cover-up, testifies before Congress.
• Jamie Raskin delivers a blistering opening, outlining the DOJ’s failure to release documents, redaction of abusers’ names, and inadvertent outing of victims:

  “You redacted the names of abusers, enablers, accomplices and co conspirators apparently to spare them embarrassment and disgrace, which is the exact opposite of what the law ordered you to do. Even worse, you shockingly failed to redact many of the victims’ names…” ([10:33])

• Timestamps:
  • [10:33] Raskin's indictment of Bondi/DOJ.
  • [13:06] Seder: Calculating it would take six years to review the files with four computers.
  • [14:05] Heated exchange as Jim Jordan and Bondi filibuster on investigations into Epstein’s co-conspirators.

Institutional Rot and Hypocrisy

• Sam Seder and team point out the irony of Jim Jordan chairing the proceedings, referencing his own history of covering up sexual abuse at Ohio State.

  “This is a man who multiple members of the Ohio State wrestling team accused of protecting a doctor who was molesting them.” ([15:44])

• Matt Leckie: "That was what he sold to the Republican Party—that if he could do that for OSU, he can do this for us.” ([16:45])
• Discussion on Pam Bondi’s stonewalling and playing to a MAGA audience of one (Trump), despite Democrats’ attempts to hold her to account.
  • Pramila Jayapal: Emotionally asks Bondi to apologize to Epstein survivors ([18:26])
  • Bondi’s evasive answers prompt more Democratic frustration.

Strategic Takeaways

• Repeated emphasis that Republican appointees are not directly accountable to voters and that Democrats should more aggressively highlight the hypocrisy and histories of their GOP counterparts.

3. Fallout, Accountability, and Media Framing ([24:30]–[29:08])

• Bondi pivots from Epstein fallout to stock market boasting (“The Dow is over $50,000 right now… that's what we should be talking about.” [23:38]), which the crew skewers as tone deaf.
• Discussion of how the Trump administration’s unity in corruption is both its “strength and weakness,” with no one wanting to be the first to break ranks.
  • Howard Lutnick is noted as a possible “fall guy" being groomed for public blame.

4. Interview: Jasper Nathaniel on West Bank Annexation ([31:56]–[65:00])

Trump, Netanyahu & U.S. Policy

• Jasper joins as news breaks of an imminent Trump-Netanyahu presser.
• Core analysis: Trump doesn’t grasp the West Bank except as donor leverage; the Abraham Accords serve as both a diplomatic asset and a potential obstacle to overt annexation.
  • Financial pressure from donors like Miriam Adelson is described as a key motivator for U.S. position shifts.

    “[Adelson] was dangling her $140 million… in front of Trump if he would provide a green light for annexation…” ([33:54])

• Advice: Israel prefers "de facto" annexation to avoid potential diplomatic blowback.

De Facto Annexation Steps

• Breaking Oslo Accords: Israel’s new cabinet decisions allow for Israeli civil administration intrusion into Areas A and B in the name of environmental protection or heritage preservation—effectively dissolving Palestinian Authority powers in those areas.

  “What it says is where there are environmental hazards or desecration of archaeological sites… the Israeli Civil Administration is allowed to go into areas A and B.” ([35:14])

• Real Estate Law Changes: Massive implications for land purchases, allowing settlers and the state to acquire land directly from Palestinians.

  • Old constraints (Jordanian & Ottoman law) requiring Arab-to-Arab sales are removed.

  “The new cabinet decision literally just repeals that. It just says that is no longer the law.” ([50:01])

• Methodology (“Decisive Plan”):

  • Three options for Palestinians: Subjugation, Emigration (with payment to leave), or Brute Force ([43:25]).
  • New real estate policies operationalize forced "voluntary" emigration via economic pressure and land purchases.

Municipal Authority Stripping & Archaeological Control

• Israeli government strips Palestinians of control around religious sites (e.g., Hebron, Bethlehem) to facilitate settlement expansion ([54:58]).
• Creation of a “Judean Samaria Heritage Authority” as a parallel body to facilitate questionable archaeology and cement claim to land ([56:58]).

Notable Quotes

• Jasper Nathaniel: “What his solution amounts to is three different options… The first one is subjugation. … Option two is emigration. … And then the third option is just brute force.” ([43:25])
• Sam Seder: “…the M.O. is just making accountability always at arm's length for everybody.” ([62:46])

Media Critique

• Nathaniel laments U.S. media failures to contextualize the ongoing annexation, despite settlers openly boasting of their progress.

  “What's funny is … Netanyahu does not typically talk about, like declaring sovereignty over the West Bank, but Smotrich and the settler leaders … say this is another move towards … Jewish sovereignty.” ([61:18])

5. Memorable, Candid Moments

• Seder and team mocking Bondi’s pivot to the stock market amidst child sex abuse scandal ([24:30]).
• Exasperated reminders of Jim Jordan’s past as a “pedophile protector” ([15:44], [17:30]).
• Jasper’s analogy: “That's because you couldn't use Final Solution.” ([43:22]) on the cold lexicon of “decisive plans.”
• The hosts’ tongue-in-cheek apple discussion closes out the show with characteristic Majority Report banter ([73:14]).

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:13–03:07 | News rundown and episode introduction | | 05:48–08:34 | Epstein case: elite corruption and media evasion | | 10:33 | Jamie Raskin confronts Pam Bondi over DOJ conduct | | 14:05–16:54 | Jim Jordan, Bondi, and accountability hypocrisy | | 18:26–20:27 | Pramila Jayapal asks Bondi to apologize to survivors | | 23:38–24:30 | Bondi pivots to stock market defense | | 31:56–35:14 | Jasper Nathaniel on U.S. politics & West Bank context | | 43:22 | “Decisive Plan” – Subjugation, Emigration, Brute Force| | 50:01–54:58 | Legal changes enabling land sales & settlement | | 56:58–61:18 | Archaeology as pretext for expansion | | 62:46–64:44 | Accountability, arms-length governance & Netanyahu |

Summary Takeaways

• Epstein/DOJ: House hearings reveal a Justice Department stonewalling on releasing key Epstein files; Pam Bondi faces withering criticism but fends off accountability by playing to Trump’s base rather than the public or the law.
• GOP Hypocrisy: GOP figures leading the investigation have their own histories of covering up abuse, which the Democratic side struggles to foreground effectively.
• Media & Elite Corruption: The coverage and fallout show the persistence of elite impunity and the inadequacy of institutional checks.
• West Bank Annexation: Through legal sleight-of-hand, parallel institutions, and explicit policy, Israel is rapidly effecting de facto annexation—pressured by U.S. donors but stage-managed to avoid direct confrontation with American political interests.
• International Implications: The world, including U.S. media and policymakers, largely ignores or deflects from the practical realities on the ground, even as settlers and right-wing Israeli politicians announce their plans openly.

Notable Quotes

• Jamie Raskin ([10:33]):

  “You redacted the names of abusers, enablers, accomplices and co conspirators apparently to spare them embarrassment and disgrace… Even worse, you shockingly failed to redact many of the victims’ names…”

• Matt Leckie ([08:34]):

  "C. Wright Mills called it the power elite in the mid-century."

• Sam Seder ([16:22]):

  “This is a man who multiple members of… the Ohio State wrestling team accused of protecting a doctor who was molesting them.”

• Jasper Nathaniel ([43:25]):

  “What his solution amounts to is three different options [for Palestinians]: subjugation… emigration… and brute force.”

• Sam Seder ([62:46]):

  “…the M.O. is just making accountability always at arm's length for everybody.”

For Further Reading

• Check out Jasper Nathaniel’s Infinite Jazz on Substack for granular, contextual reporting on both the West Bank and on-the-ground politics often ignored by U.S. media.
• Full episode details and links provided at majority.fm and podcast show notes.

This summary blends sharp analysis, irreverence, and deep contextual insight, making it essential recapping for listeners or readers tracking U.S. politics, the Epstein fallout, and Israeli policy in the West Bank.